Insulin resistance in relation to inflammatory gene expression and metabolic features in apparently healthy obese individuals

  • Parichehr Amiri
  • Mahsa Naghizadeh
  • Behzad Baradaran
  • Maryam Saghafi-Asl
  • Dariush Shanehbandi
  • Susan Mirmajidi
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the association of insulin resistance (IR) with inflammatory gene expression levels, metabolic health, lipid profile, and body composition in the apparently healthy obese. In this cross-sectional study, 88 apparently healthy obese subjects were recruited and divided into insulin-resistant and non-insulin-resistant (NIR) groups. Fasting blood samples were taken to determine serum metabolic features. mRNA expression of inflammatory genes were assessed in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to describe body composition. Among inflammatory genes, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA revealed significant upregulation in PBMCs of IR group compared with NIR individuals (p = 0.035). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, p = 0.04), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, p < 0.001), waist circumference (p = 0.025), and waist to hip ratio (p = 0.013) were significantly different between the two groups. A significant but weak correlation of HDL-C was observed with TLR4 (r = − 0.305; p = 0.011) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88, r = − 0.27; p = 0.024) expression level. Also, LDL-C was found to be correlated with TLR4 (r = 0.302; p = 0.012) and MyD88 (r = 0.267; p = 0.027) expression levels. There was also a significant correlation between HOMA-IR and HDL-C (r = − 0.25; p = 0.019). The results of this study indicated the possible link between IR and TLR4. Also, there was a significant correlation between HDL-C and LDL-C as well as between TLR4 and MyD88. Some inflammatory genes and metabolic parameters were also significantly correlated.

Keywords

Insulin resistance Inflammatory genes Metabolic health Lipid profile Healthy obese 

Abbreviations

BP

Blood pressure

BMI

Body mass index

FBS

Fasting blood sugar

HDL-C

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

HOMA-IR

Homeostasis model of insulin resistance

IR

Insulin resistance

LDL-C

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

MetS

Metabolic syndrome

MHO

Metabolically healthy obese

MUO

Metabolically unhealthy obese

MyD88

Myeloid differentiation factor 88

NFĸB

Nuclear factor kappa B

NIR

Non-insulin resistance

PBMCs

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

QUICKI

Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index

T2DM

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

TC

Total cholesterol

TRIF

TIR-domain containing adaptor-inducing interferon-β

TLR2

Toll-like receptor 2

TLR4

Toll-like receptor 4

WC

Waist circumference

WHR

Waist/hip ratio

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Notes

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to all who participated in the study.

Authors’ contribution

MSA and PA wrote the study protocol and study design. BB and DS helped with qPCR. MSA and PA analyzed and interpreted the data. PA, MN, and SM helped with the sampling. PA and MSA were involved in drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for content. All authors have given final approval of the version to be published.

Compliance with ethical standards

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Copyright information

© Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • Parichehr Amiri
    • 1
    • 2
  • Mahsa Naghizadeh
    • 1
    • 2
  • Behzad Baradaran
    • 1
  • Maryam Saghafi-Asl
    • 3
    • 4
  • Dariush Shanehbandi
    • 1
  • Susan Mirmajidi
    • 2
  1. 1.Immunology Research CenterTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
  2. 2.Student Research CommitteeTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
  3. 3.Nutrition Research Center, Department of Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, School of Nutrition and Food SciencesTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
  4. 4.Department of Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, School of Nutrition and Food SciencesTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran

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