Interleukin 1-beta is Linked to Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight Adolescents.

AIM: We hypothesized that IL-1ß concentrations are augmented in overweight adolescents, who do not display metabolic syndrome. Additionally, we aimed to correlate the IL-1ß concentrations with several established risk factors for CVD. METHODS: Overweight or control subjects, aging from 14-18 years, were classified according to their adjusted body mass index and evaluated for biochemical and anthropometric parameters. The proinflammatory cytokine IL-1ß was assessed in the serum. RESULTS: Increased body fat percentage, waist circumference, triglycerides, total cholesterol, Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, Castelli I index, IL-1ß, and IL-8 levels, were observed in overweight adolescents. No differences were observed in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glucose or High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Positive correlations between IL-1ß with anthropometric and or biochemical parameters were found. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, increased IL-1ß levels correlate to dyslipidemic factors and may further support low-grade inflammation. IL-1ß may further predict the early onset of cardiovascular disease in this population, taking into consideration its important regulatory role.

Phenotypic characterization of regulatory T cells populations in maternal blood, cord blood and placenta from diabetic mothers.

Purpose: Changes in regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood are associated with a number of pathologies, including diabetes. However, the immunological responses of pregnant diabetic women remain scarcely known, and the effects of Treg cells in these patients have yet to be investigated. The present study characterized the expression of regulatory T cells in the maternal blood, cord blood and placenta of diabetic pregnant women. Materials and methods: The women were divided according to glycemic status into a non-diabetic (ND; N = 20) or type 2 diabetic (T2DM; N = 20) group. Cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Compared to ND, T2DM blood cells exhibited a higher expression of CD25+, Foxp3+, CD4+CD25+, CD4+Foxp3+ and CD25+Foxp3+; and cord blood cells showed a lower expression of CD25+, CD4+Foxp3+ and CD25+Foxp3+. In the placenta of T2DM, the villous layer of the proportion, CD3+ and CD25 was lower than that of CD4+Foxp3+ and CD25+Foxp3+, and the extravillous placenta layer contained the lowest levels of CD4+ and CD25+ and highest proportions of CD4+Foxp3+. In maternal blood from T2DM, the frequency of CD3+CD95+ and CD3CD4+ T cells expressing CD95+ was lower. In cord blood from T2DM, the rate of CD3+CD95+ was lower. The placenta villous layer of T2DM showed a lower count of CD3+CD95+ and of CD3CD4+ T cells expressing CD95+, whereas the number of cells expressing CD3+CD45RO+ decreased in both placental layers. Conclusion: The data obtained suggest that hyperglycemia changes the phenotypes of regulatory T cells and Fas expression in memory T cells.

The modulatory role of cytokines IL-4 and IL-17 in the functional activity of phagocytes in diabetic pregnant women.

The study investigated the role of cytokines IL-4 and IL-17 in the modulation of the functional activity of mononuclear phagocytes in diabetic pregnant women with hyperglycemia. Sixty pregnant women were assigned to the following groups: nondiabetic (ND), mild gestational hyperglycemia (MGH), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The functional activity of phagocytes from maternal blood, cord blood, and colostrum was assessed by determining their superoxide release, phagocytosis, microbicidal activity, and intracellular Ca2+ release. Irrespective of glycemic status, colostrum and blood cells treated with IL-4 and IL-17 increased superoxide release in the presence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). The highest phagocytosis rate was observed in cells from the DM2 group treated with IL-4. In all the groups, phagocytes from colostrum, maternal blood, and cord blood exhibited higher microbicidal activity against EPEC when treated with cytokines. IL-17 increased intracellular Ca2+ release by colostrum phagocytes in diabetic groups. The results indicate that the IL-4 and IL-17 modulate the functional activity of phagocytes in the maternal blood, cord blood, and colostrum of diabetic mother. The natural immunity resulting from the interaction between the cells and cytokines tested may be an alternative procedure to improve the prognosis of maternal and newborn infections.

Antioxidant effect of melatonin on the functional activity of colostral phagocytes in diabetic women.

Melatonin is involved in a number of physiological and oxidative processes, including functional regulation in human milk. The present study investigated the mechanisms of action of melatonin and its effects on the functional activity of colostral phagocytes in diabetic women. Colostrum samples were collected from normoglycemic (N = 38) and diabetic (N = 38) women. We determined melatonin concentration, superoxide release, bactericidal activity and intracellular Ca(2+) release by colostral phagocytes treated or not with 8-(Diethylamino) octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) and incubated with melatonin and its precursor (N-acetyl-serotonin-NAS), antagonist (luzindole) and agonist (chloromelatonin-CMLT). Melatonin concentration was higher in colostrum samples from hyperglycemic than normoglycemic mothers. Melatonin stimulated superoxide release by colostral phagocytes from normoglycemic but not hyperglycemic women. NAS increased superoxide, irrespective of glycemic status, whereas CMTL increased superoxide only in cells from the normoglycemic group. Phagocytic activity in colostrum increased significantly in the presence of melatonin, NAS and CMLT, irrespective of glycemic status. The bactericidal activity of colostral phagocytes against enterophatogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) increased in the presence of melatonin or NAS in the normoglycemic group, but not in the hyperglycemic group. Luzindole blocked melatonin action on colostrum phagocytes. Phagocytes from the normoglycemic group treated with melatonin exhibited an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) release. Phagocytes treated with TMB-8 (intracellular Ca(2+) inhibitor) decreased superoxide, bactericidal activity and intracellular Ca(2+) release in both groups. The results obtained suggest an interactive effect of glucose metabolism and melatonin on colostral phagocytes. In colostral phagocytes from normoglycemic mothers, melatonin likely increases the ability of colostrum to protect against EPEC and other infections. In diabetic mothers, because maternal hyperglycemia modifies the functional activity of colostrum phagocytes, melatonin effects are likely limited to anti-inflammatory processes, with low superoxide release and bactericidal activity.