Sex dimorphism in inflammatory response to obesity in childhood

Author(s):Show less -

Simoes, Estefania ^[1] ; Correia-Lima, Joanna ^[1] ; Sardas, Leonardo ^[2] ; Storti, Felipe ^[2] ; Otani, Thais Zelia dos Santos ^[2] ; Vasques, Daniel Augusto Correa ^[2] ; Otani, Victor Henrique Oyamada ^[2] ; Bertolazzi, Pamela ^[2] ; Kochi, Cristiane ^[3] ; Seelaender, Marilia ^{[4, 5]} ; Uchida, Ricardo Riyoiti ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Canc Metab Res Grp, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Santa Casa Sao Paulo Sch Med Sci, Mental Hlth Dept, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Santa Casa Sao Paulo Sch Med Sci, Physiol Dept, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Hosp Clin, LIM 26, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: International Journal of Obesity; v. 45, n. 4, p. 879-887, APR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background Childhood overweight and obesity are a global concern, with prevalence rising dramatically over the last decades. The condition is caused by an increase in energy intake and reduction of physical activity, leading to excessive fat accumulation, followed by systemic chronic inflammation and altered function of immune cell responses. This study aimed at providing new insights regarding sex-specificity on the inflammatory response to obesity in the young patient. Design Forty-three Brazilian obese adolescents (Female = 22 and Male=21, BMI (body mass index) Z-score average = 2.78 +/- 0.51) and forty-nine eutrophic adolescents (Female = 24 and Male = 25, BMI Z-score average = -0.35 +/- 0.88) were enrolled in the study. Anthropometrical analyses and blood cell counts were carried out. Using Luminex (R) xMAP (TM) technology, circulating serum cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed. Two-way ANOVA test, Tukey's test, and Spearman's correlation coefficient were employed, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results We identified increased levels of serum amyloid A (SAA), platelets, and leukocytes solely in male obese patients. We found a noteworthy sex-dependent pattern in regard to inflammatory response: obese boys showed higher TNF beta, IL15, and IL2 and lower IL10 and IL13, while obese girls showed increased TNF alpha, CCL3, CCL4, and IP10 content in the circulation. BMI Z-score was significantly linearly correlated with neutrophils, leukocytes, platelets, SAA, TNF alpha, CCL3, CCL4, IP10, and IL13 levels within the entire cohort (non-sex-dependent). Conclusions Our data support a complex relationship between adiposity, blood cell count, and circulating inflammatory cytokine content. High SAA levels suggest that this factor may play a critical role in local and systemic inflammation. In the eutrophic group, females presented a lower status of inflammation, as compared to males. Both obese boys and girls showed an increased inflammatory response in relation to eutrophic counterparts. Taken together, results point out to clear sex dimorphism in the inflammatory profile of obese adolescents. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/50079-0 - Systemic inflammation in cachectic cancer patients: mechanisms and therapeutical strategies, a translational medicine approach
• Grantee: Marilia Cerqueira Leite Seelaender
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/21677-6 - Cerebral anatomy, inflammatory mediators and appetite regulatory hormones in obese pediatrics patients: a neurobiology study of obesity
• Grantee: Ricardo Riyoiti Uchida
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants