title: Concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α and its soluble receptors in the serum of teenagers with atherosclerosis risk factors: obesity or obesity combined with hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity and hypertension are recognised risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. It has not been proven whether their co-existence increases the synthesis of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and what the levels of soluble receptors of this cytokine (sTNF-R) are. This study is aimed to investigate whether there exists a relationship between TNF-α and sTNF-R concentrations in blood serum with the occurrence of obesity or obesity combined with primary hypertension in teenagers.
  
  
  METHODS
  68 persons, aged 9-17, including 32 persons with primary obesity (Group I) and 36 with primary obesity combined with primary hypertension (Group II). TNF-α (pg/mL) and sTNF-R (ng/mL) concentrations were determined in serum samples using the ELISA method with sets of reagents manufactured by Bender Med Systems GmbH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in TNF-α, sTNF-R, glucose or insulin concentrations were found between Group I and Group II. These concentrations were not correlated with the age and the nutritional status of the patients or with each other in either of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both obese teenagers and teenagers exhibiting obesity combined with hypertension (as two atherosclerosis risk factors) are characterised by comparable concentrations of TNF-α and its soluble receptors.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obuchowicz
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kniażewska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zmudzińska-Kitczak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonciarz-Majda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000097:blood*; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha