Assessment of High Molecular Weight Adiponectin and Interleukin-6 in Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Background. Subclinical inflammation can represent a risk factor associated with the metabolic syndrome. Measurement of systemic inflammatory markers can improve early diagnosis in this disease. In the last decade different biomarkers have been suggested for the evaluation of inflammation in metabolic syndrome: high-sensitive C-reactive protein, leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, total adiponectin.

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between high molecular weight (HMW)-adiponectin, a more rarely evaluated biomarker and the metabolic syndrome, in comparison with Interleukin-6, a better known marker for inflammation assessment.

Material and methods. A number of 88 participants aged between 28-65 years were enrolled in the study. The study group consisted of 58 persons with metabolic syndrome. Another 30 apparently healthy persons represented the control group. Two biomarkers (Interleukin-6 and HMW-adiponectin) were measured for inflammation assessment in the metabolic syndrome. Systemic levels of HMW-adiponectin and Interleukin-6 were compared between the metabolic syndrome group and controls. We analyzed also the behaviour of HMW-adiponectin and Interleukin-6 levels in metabolic syndrome participants.

Results. High molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin had lower levels in metabolic syndrome subjects (2909,00 ng/ml), as compared with controls (4599.67 ng/ml, p= 0.013). Interlukin-6 had higher levels in metabolic syndrome participants (7.16 pg/ml), compared with healthy control subjects (2.30 pg/ml, p=0.000). Systemic concentrations of HMW-adiponectin and Interleukin-6 were significantly different between non-metabolic syndrome participants (4599.67 ng/ml and 2.303 pg/ml respectively) and patients which presented three components of the metabolic syndrome (1910 ng/ml, p=0.007 and 8.62 pg/ml, p=0.007 respectively). HMW-adiponectin presented a mild but significant correlation with markers of inflammation (Interleukin-6) (rho=-0.238, p=0.026).

Conclusions. High molecular weight adiponectin is inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome and with other markers of inflammation (Interleukin-6). Decreased systemic levels of HMW-adiponectin and increased levels of Interleukin-6, can be identified from early stages of the metabolic syndrome when only two components of this syndrome are present.