Exploring the spectrum of diseases influenced by excess adiposity

IL-15 polymorphisms are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors. The Genetics of Atherosclerosis Disease (GEA) Mexican Study

Interleukin IL-15 (IL-15) has been implicated in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of IL-15 gene polymorphisms as susceptibility markers for development of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) and cardiovascular risk factors in Mexican population. Four IL-15 gene polymorphisms (rs4956403, rs3806798, rs1057972 and rs10833) were analyzed in a group of 397 individuals with SA and 1120 controls. Under different inheritance models adjusted by traditional risk factors, the rs10833T allele was associated with increased risk of developing SA [OR=1.42, P_codom1=0.046; OR=1.48, P_dom=0.021; OR=1.43, P_add=0.014]. Under a dominant model, the rs1057972 polymorphism was associated with central obesity (P=0.045) and fatty liver (P=0.021), while the rs10833 polymorphism was associated with metabolic syndrome (P=0.007) in individuals with SA. The TAC haplotype was significantly associated with a decreased risk of SA. Individuals with rs10833CC genotype exhibited higher levels of IL-15 than individuals with CT+TT genotypes. The results suggest that IL-15 polymorphisms are involved in the risk of developing SA and are associated with metabolic syndrome, central obesity and fatty liver in our study population. The rs10833 polymorphism could be involved in regulating IL-15 production in SA.

Estado nutricional dos alunos da Rede Nacional de Ensino de Educação Infantil e Fundamental do Serviço Social do Comércio (Sesc), Brasil, 2012

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar e descrever o crescimento e o perfil nutricional antropométrico das crianças matriculadas na Rede Nacional de Ensino do Sesc. Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado em 20.113 escolares (9.992 meninas) em 83 escolas com idades de 3 a 17 anos. O estado nutricional foi determinado pelo índice de massa corporal e estatura para a idade. Os resultados indicaram baixa prevalência de baixa estatura: 1,6% para meninas e 1,3% para meninos. No entanto, EMC (excesso de massa corporal) foi encontrado em 29,7% das crianças, sendo 27,6% em meninas e 32,3% em meninos. Nas crianças até 5 anos, EMC foi igual a 12,3% (10,9% em meninas e 13,25% em meninos). Na faixa etária de 5 a 10 anos, os resultados foram de 35,3% para as meninas e 40,1% para os meninos, sendo de 37,8% em todo o grupo. A prevalência de EMC para crianças acima de 10 anos foi de 37,4% (32,5% em meninas e 43,0% em meninos). As prevalências de EMC encontradas em todas as faixas etárias foram expressivas e o problema se agrava nas crianças maiores e nos meninos. Estes resultados corroboram a situação relatada nos estudos nacionais de alta prevalência de EMC e reforçam a necessidade de acompanhamento do estado nutricional devido aos agravos associados ao EMC infantil e suas consequências na vida adulta.

Interleukins 6 and 15 Levels Are Higher in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue, but Obesity Is Associated with Their Increased Content in Visceral Fat Depots

Excess adiposity is associated with chronic inflammation, which takes part in the development of obesity-related complications. The aim of this study was to establish whether subcutaneous (SAT) or visceral (VAT) adipose tissue plays a major role in synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Concentrations of interleukins (IL): 1β, 6, 8 and 15 were measured at the protein level by an ELISA-based method and on the mRNA level by real-time PCR in VAT and SAT samples obtained from 49 obese (BMI > 40 kg/m²) and 16 normal-weight (BMI 20–24.9 kg/m²) controls. IL-6 and IL-15 protein concentrations were higher in SAT than in VAT for both obese (p = 0.003 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and control individuals (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively), while for IL-1β this was observed only in obese subjects (p = 0.047). What characterized obese individuals was the higher expression of IL-6 and IL-15 at the protein level in VAT compared to normal-weight controls (p = 0.047 and p = 0.016, respectively). Additionally, obese individuals with metabolic syndrome had higher IL-1β levels in VAT than did obese individuals without this syndrome (p = 0.003). In conclusion, concentrations of some pro-inflammatory cytokines were higher in SAT than in VAT, but it was the increased pro-inflammatory activity of VAT that was associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.