title: Inflammatory cytokines in general and central obesity and modulating effects of physical activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic systemic inflammation in obesity originates from local immune responses in visceral adipose tissue. However, assessment of a broad range of inflammation-mediating cytokines and their relationship to physical activity and adipometrics has scarcely been reported to date.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the profile of a broad range of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the impact of physical activity and energy expenditure in individuals with general obesity, central obesity, and non-obese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study comprising 117 obese patients (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30) and 83 non-obese community-based volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured. Physical activity and energy expenditure (MET) were assessed with actigraphy. Adipometrics comprised BMI, weight, abdominal-, waist- and hip-circumference, waist to hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  General obesity was associated with significantly elevated levels of IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IFN-γ and TNF-α, central obesity with significantly elevated IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13 and IFN-γ-levels. In participants with general obesity, levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 were significantly elevated in participants with low physical activity, even when controlled for BMI which was negatively associated with physical acitivity. Cytokines significantly correlated with adipometrics, particularly in obese participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results confirm up-regulation of certain pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in obesity. In obese subjects, physical activity may lower levels and thus reduce pro-inflammatory effects of cytokines that may link obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weschenfelder
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases (IFB), Leipzig, Saxony, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases (IFB), Leipzig, Saxony, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minkwitz
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases (IFB), Leipzig, Saxony, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thormann
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases (IFB), Leipzig, Saxony, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chittka
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mergl
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kirkby
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases (IFB), Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faßhauer
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases (IFB), Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
authors.forename: Lesca M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Holdt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teupser
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases (IFB), Leipzig, Saxony, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hegerl
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases (IFB), Leipzig, Saxony, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Hubertus
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Himmerich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines