Relationship of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) with insulin resistance and body mass index, but not with thermogenetic hormones in obesity

Article type: Research Article

Authors: De Pergola, Giovanni^{a; d} | Sciaraffia, Marcello^b | Amoroso, Rosalba^a | Ammirati, Alida^a | Caccavo, Domenico^a | Meleca, Federica^a | Centoducati, Claudia^a | Quaranta, Michele^c

Affiliations: [a] Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, School of Medicine, Policlinico, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 74124 Bari, Italy | [b] Endocrinology Section, Ospedale S.S. Annunziata, 74100 Taranto, Italy | [c] Laboratorio Analisi, IRCCS, Ospedale Oncologico, Bari, Italy | [d] Via Putignani 236, 70122 Bari, Italy. e-mail: g.depergola@libero.it

Abstract: Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) has been implicated in the recruitment of monocytes to atheroma and of monocytes and macrophages to adipose tissue. The aim of the study was to examine whether MCP-1 levels are associated independently with the main thermogenetic hormones (serum TSH and thyroid hormones and 24-h urinary catecholamines) and insulin resistance in a population mainly represented by overweight and obese women. A cohort of 100 consecutive euthyroid women, aged 18–65 years, and with a wide range of BMI, was examined. Central fat accumulation (indirectly measured by waist circumference), fasting MCP-1 plasma levels, and TSH, FT3, FT4, insulin, glucose, and lipid (cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride) serum concentrations, and 24-h urinary catecholamines were measured. Insulin resistance was estimated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMAIR). MCP-1 levels were directly associated with BMI (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001), insulin (p < 0.001), HOMAIR (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p < 0.001), triglycerides (TG) (p < 0.05), and 24-h urinary noradrenaline (p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01). When a multiple regression analysis was performed with MCP-1 as the dependent variable, and only parameters showing a significant univariate association with MCP-1 were considered as the independent variables, MCP-1 maintained an independent positive association with insulin (p < 0.01), and DBP (p < 0.05). When insulin was replaced by HOMAIR in the regression analysis, MCP-1 maintained an independent positive association with HOMAIR (p < 0.05), DBP (p < 0.05), and BMI (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study suggests that insulin, BMI, and diastolic blood pressure cooperate independently in increasing MCP-1 levels, whereas thyroid hormones and catecholamines have no apparent influence on this chemokine.

Keywords: MCP-1, Insulin, Thyroid hormones, Catecholamines

DOI: 10.3233/s12349-010-0005-z

Journal: Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 137-142, 2010