Mahdi Taghadosi1, Zahra Samimi2, Shirin Assar3, Mohammad Reza Salahshoor4, Cyrus Jalili5. 1. Assistant Professor in Department of Immunology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. 2. Student Research Committee, Immunology Department, Medical School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. 3. Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of medical sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. 4. Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. 5. Professor of Medical Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Abstract
Background: The effect of obesity on disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains controversial. Adipocytes secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines which may contribute to RA disease activity. The goal of the present study is to address the association between body mass index (BMI) with plasma levels of leptin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and RA disease severity. Methods: Fifty RA patients (20 newly diagnosed and 30 under treatment) as well as 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in this survey. The plasma levels of leptin and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-6, were measured, and the results were compared among the patients in the three different categories of BMI, including <25, ≥25-30, and ≥30. Results: In our study, a significant positive correlation was observed between disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) and BMI in overweight (OW) RA patients (p = .036 r = 0.440). The plasma levels of leptin were significantly higher in patients group, compared to healthy subjects (p < .05); moreover, leptin levels were significantly higher in OW and obese patients compared to RA patients with normal BMI (p = .011, p = .001, respectively) and also BMI had positive correlation with leptin concentrations just in the newly diagnosed patients (p < .0001, r = 0.748). There was no correlation between leptin and DAS-28. The plasma IL-6 and TNF-α did not show significant differences between RA patients and healthy subjects, and also the plasma leptin did not have any correlation with plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. Conclusion: BMI contribution to RA disease severity is independent of systemic levels of leptin and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Background: The effect of obesity on disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains controversial. Adipocytes secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines which may contribute to RA disease activity. The goal of the present study is to address the association between body mass index (BMI) with plasma levels of leptin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and RA disease severity. Methods: Fifty RApatients (20 newly diagnosed and 30 under treatment) as well as 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in this survey. The plasma levels of leptin and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-6, were measured, and the results were compared among the patients in the three different categories of BMI, including <25, ≥25-30, and ≥30. Results: In our study, a significant positive correlation was observed between disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) and BMI in overweight (OW) RApatients (p = .036 r = 0.440). The plasma levels of leptin were significantly higher in patients group, compared to healthy subjects (p < .05); moreover, leptin levels were significantly higher in OW and obesepatients compared to RApatients with normal BMI (p = .011, p = .001, respectively) and also BMI had positive correlation with leptin concentrations just in the newly diagnosed patients (p < .0001, r = 0.748). There was no correlation between leptin and DAS-28. The plasma IL-6 and TNF-α did not show significant differences between RApatients and healthy subjects, and also the plasma leptin did not have any correlation with plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. Conclusion: BMI contribution to RA disease severity is independent of systemic levels of leptin and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Entities:
Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis; body mass index (BMI); disease activity score-28 (DAS-28); leptin; pro-inflammatory cytokines