Correlations among serum leptin levels, complete blood count parameters and peripheral CD34(+) cell count in prepubertal obese children.

Leptin is a hormone produced by adipocytes that helps reduce body weight by depressing appetite and increasing metabolic activity. Leptin also promotes early hematopoiesis. The main aim of this study was to compare complete blood count (CBC) parameters and peripheral blood CD34(+) cell counts in prepubertal obese and nonobese children. Relationships between leptin levels and CBC parameters and peripheral CD34(+) progenitor cell counts in the obese group were also investigated. Thirty one healthy, prepubertal, obese children and 30 nonobese, age-matched prepubertal controls were included in the study. A fasting blood sample was collected from each subject, and CBC findings, serum leptin level, and peripheral blood CD34(+) progenitor cell count were recorded. In the obese group, the mean results for body mass index (BMI), BMI standard deviation score (BMI SDS), and serum leptin level were significantly higher than the corresponding control findings. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to CBC parameters and CD34(+) cell percentage. In both the obese and control groups, the girls' serum leptin levels were significantly higher than the boys'. In the obese group, serum leptin level was strongly correlated with BMI and with BMI SDS (Pearson correlation coefficients r=0.70, p<0.001, and r=0.59, p<0.001, respectively) in both girls and boys. None of the CBC parameters nor CD34(+) progenitor cell percentage was correlated with leptin, BMI, or BMI SDS. The results indicate that serum leptin levels in obese children are positively correlated with BMI. However, in contrast to adults, high leptin level in childhood obesity does not seem to be associated with altered CBC parameters or increased peripheral CD34(+) progenitor cell count.

The effect of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene 4G/5G polymorphism on glucose and lipid metabolisms in Turkish obese children.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a metabolic disorder that is associated with increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentration in the circulation. This increase is related to insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular disease. Some studies have demonstrated a relationship between plasma PAI-1 concentrations and the 4G/5G gene polymorphism in the PAI-1 gene, while other studies have not. It is well known that plasma PAI-1 levels are increased in obesity; however, the relationship between the polymorphism and obesity remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism on glucose and lipid metabolism parameters in Turkish obese children. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Ninety children with obesity (37 male, 53 female; mean age 11.1 +/- 3.4 years; range 5.8-17.6 years) were included in the study. The children were divided into three groups according to the PAI-1 promoter 4G/5G polymorphism (4G/4G, 4G/5G and 5G/5G). These groups were compared for age, body mass index (BMI), serum glucose, lipid and insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score. RESULTS: The genotype distribution was 52% (47/90) 4G/4G, 25% (22/90) 4G/5G and 23% (21/90) 5G/5G. No statistically significant differences among genotype groups were found with respect to age, BMI, serum levels of glucose, lipid and insulin, and HOMA-IR score. CONCLUSION: Although the frequency of the 4G/4G genotype was higher in subjects in the current study than in subjects reported in the literature, in our study group we observed no influence of the PAI-1 4G/4G polymorphism on lipid and glucose metabolism.