Psoriasis and metabolic syndrome in children: current data.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in paediatric patients with psoriasis is not well established. AIM: To conduct a meta-analysis of previously published studies dealing with the occurrence of metabolic disorders in children with psoriasis. METHODS: Data from 7 studies with a total of 965 children with psoriasis were analysed using a random effects model. RESULTS: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in healthy controls (HCs). In most studies, significantly decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were found in children with psoriasis. Mean level of HDL cholesterol in patients with psoriasis was 2.05 mg/dL lower than in HCs. Patients with psoriasis and HCs did not differ significantly in their mean triglyceride levels, although the difference was at a threshold of statistical significance. Mean level of fasting glucose in children with psoriasis was 5.75 mg/dL higher than in HCs (P < 0.01). The two groups did not differ significantly in mean waist circumference or in systolic and diastolic arterial pressures. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased levels of HDL cholesterol and increased concentrations of fasting glucose may represent very early stages of MetS in children with psoriasis. However, a large population-based study is needed to establish the relationship between psoriasis and MetS in children, including the environmental, genetic and immunological factors leading to their co-occurrence.

The effects of ryanodine receptor (RYR1) mutation on natural killer cell cytotoxicity, plasma cytokines and stress hormones during acute intermittent exercise in pigs.

Stress susceptibility has been mapped to a single recessive gene, the ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) gene or halothane (Hal) gene. Homozygous (Hal(nn)), mutated pigs are sensitive to halothane and susceptible to Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS). Previous studies have shown that stress-susceptible RYR1 gene mutated homozygotes in response to restraint stress showed an increase in natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) accompanied by more pronounced stress-related hormone and anti-inflammatory cytokine changes. In order to determine the relationship of a RYR1 gene mutation with NKCC, plasma cytokines and stress-related hormones following a different stress model - exercise - 36 male pigs (representing different genotypes according to RYR1 gene mutation: NN, homozygous dominant; Nn, heterozygous; nn, homozygous recessive) were submitted to an intermittent treadmill walking. During the entire experiment the greatest level of NKCC and the greatest concentrations of interleukin (IL-) 6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon (IFN-)γ and tumor necrosis factor-α and stress-related hormones (adrenaline, prolactin, beta-endorphin) were observed in nn pigs, and the greatest concentration of IL-1 and growth hormone in NN pigs. Immunostimulatory effects of intermittent exercise on NKCC in nn pigs were concomitant with increases in IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ, the potent NKCC activators. Our findings suggest that stress-susceptible pigs RYR1 gene mutated pigs develop a greater level of NKCC and cytokine production in response to exercise stress. These results suggest that the heterogeneity of immunological and neuroendocrine response to exercise stress in pigs could be influenced by RYR1 gene mutation.

Natural killer cell cytotoxicity, cytokine and neuroendocrine responses to opioid receptor blockade during prolonged restraint in pigs.

This study evaluated porcine natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC), plasma cytokines including interleukin (IL) 1ß, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α and plasma stress-related hormones including prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), ß-endorphin (BEND), ACTH and cortisol (COR) during a 4h restraint and recovery phase after saline or naloxone (1mg/kg BW) administration. The restraint preceded with saline altered NKCC and IL-12 concentration (an early from 15 to 60 min increase followed by a decrease) and increased other measured cytokines and hormones concentrations. Naloxone pretreatment blocked the suppressive effects of the restraint on NKCC and IL-12 and altered IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α, PRL and ACTH concentrations. Furthermore, in naloxone-injected pigs, a positive correlation was found between NKCC and all measured cytokines (with the exception of IL-6) and BEND, ACTH and COR. Results suggest that naloxone-sensitive opioid pathways could influence the mechanisms underlying the immune system (including NKCC) response during stress.