| It is still unclear whether toll-like receptor signaling and serum levels of inflammatory markers in
metabolically unhealthy abdominally obese (MUAO) are due to their obesity and/or their metabolic
state. We hypothesized that abdominal obesity is an important mediator of the association of
metabolic state with TLR signaling and serum inflammatory markers. Therefore, in this case
control study, we compared the expression level of toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) and Toll/IL-1
receptor domain containing adaptor protein-inducing interferon-beta (TRIF)and serum
concentrations of interferon β (IFNβ) and lipoprotein binding protein (LBP) in metabolically
healthy abdominally obese (MHAO) and MUAO individuals. Basal blood samples from 65
abdominally obese subjects with waist circumference (WC)≥95cm were collected to determine
serum metabolic parameters, INFβ, and LBP. Those with 3 or more metabolic alterations were
defined as MUAO (n=34) and those having 2 or less were classified as MHAO (n=31).
Furthermore, mRNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). TLR4 and
TRIF gene expression assay was performed using quantitative real time-PCR (qPCR). There were
significant differences in serum fasting blood sugar (p=0.017), triglyceride (p<0.001), cholesterol
(p=0.002), and LDL-C (p=0.034) between MUAO and MHAO groups, whereas no significant
difference was observed in the expression ratio of TLR4 and TRIF mRNA and serum levels of
INFβ and LBP. However, a significant correlation was noticed between mRNA expression level of
TLR4 and TRIF (r=0.50;p<0.001) and serum INFβ and LBP (r=0.70,p<0.001). It is concluded that
the expression level of TLR4 and TRIF as well as serum INFβ and LBP are more related to
abdominal obesity than to metabolic health. |