title: Increased circulatory levels of fractalkine (CX3CL1) are associated with inflammatory chemokines and cytokines in individuals with type-2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fractalkine (CX3CL1) is involved in the development of numerous inflammatory conditions including metabolic diseases. However, changes in the circulatory fractalkine levels in type-2 diabetes (T2D) and their relationship with inflammatory chemokines/cytokines remain unclear. The aim of the study was to determine the T2D-associated modulations in plasma fractalkine levels and investigate their relationship with circulatory chemokines/cytokines.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 47 plasma samples were collected from 23 T2D and 24 non-diabetic individuals selected over a wide range of body mass index (BMI). Clinical metabolic parameters were determined using standard commercial kits. Fractalkine and chemokines/cytokines were measured using Luminex X-MAP® technology. C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by ELISA. The data were compared using unpairedt-test and the dependence between two variables was assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient (r).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma fractalkine levels were significantly higher (P = 0.005) in T2D patients (166 ± 14.22 pg/ml) as compared with non-diabetics (118 ± 8.90 pg/ml). In T2D patients, plasma fractalkine levels correlated positively (P ≤ 0.05) with inflammatory chemokines/cytokines including CCL3 (r = 0.52), CCL4 (r = 0.85), CCL11 (r = 0.51), CXCL1 (r = 0.67), G-CSF (r = 0.91), IFN-α2 (r = 0.97), IL-17A (r = 0.79), IL-1β (r = 0.97), IL-12P70 (r = 0.90), TNF-α (r = 0.58), and IL-6 (r = 0.60). In non-diabetic individuals, fractalkine levels correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with those of CCL4 (r = 0.49), IL-1β (r = 0.73), IL-12P70 (r = 0.41), and TNF-α (r = 0.50). Notably, plasma fractalkine levels in T2D patients associated with systemic inflammation (CRP) (r = 0.65, P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The altered plasma fractalkine levels associate differentially with inflammatory chemokines/cytokines in T2D patients which may have implications for T2D immunopathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait ; Animal & Zebrafish Core Facility, Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI), P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Sardar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sindhu
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhter
authors.affiliation: Islet Biology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arefanian
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Areej Abu
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Roub
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Shamsha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Hubail
authors.affiliation: Islet Biology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Shaima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Beloushi
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Zanki
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, P.O. Box 1180, Dasman, 15462 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Rasheed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
keywords: CX3CL1; Chemokines; Cytokines; Fractalkine; Inflammation; Obesity; Type-2 diabetes