| It is still unclear whether toll-like receptor (TLR) 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 levels of TLR4
and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain containing adaptor protein-inducing interferon β
(TRIF) and serum concentrations of interferon β 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) of at least 95
cm were collected to determine serum metabolic parameters, IFNβ, 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, messenger RNA (mRNA) was isolated from
peripheral blood mononuclear cells. TLR4 and TRIF gene expression assay was performed
using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. There were significant differences
in serum fasting blood sugar (P = .017), triglyceride (P < .001), cholesterol (P = .002), and lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .034) between the MUAO and MHAO groups, whereas no significant difference was observed in the expression ratio of TLR4 and TRIF mRNA and
serum levels of IFNβ and LBP. However, a significant correlation was noticed between
mRNA expression levels of TLR4 and TRIF (r = 0.50, P < .001) and serum IFNβ and LBP (r = 0.70,
P < .001). It is concluded that the expression levels of TLR4 and TRIF as well as serum IFNβ and
LBP are more related to abdominal obesity than to metabolic health. |