Decreased serum interleukin-17 and increased transforming growth factor–β levels in subjects with metabolic syndrome (Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study–95)

Abstract

The term metabolic syndrome (MS) refers to a conglomeration of many metabolic disorders. Recent studies suggest that inflammation plays a vital role in MS. There are however no data available on the recently characterized novel T-cell–derived cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 in MS; studies on the anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)–β are also limited. The aim of the study was to look at IL-17 and TGF-β levels in subjects with and without MS. The study subjects were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES), a population-based study in Chennai (formerly Madras) in southern India. Group 1 consisted of subjects without MS (non- MS) (n = 98) and group 2 consisted of subjects with MS (n = 156). MS was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria modified for waist, according to the World Health Organization Asia Pacific guidelines. Serum IL-17 and TGF-β levels were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Interleukin-17 levels were decreased (P b .001) and TGF-β levels (P b .001) were increased in subjects with MS compared to those without. With an increase in the number of metabolic risk factors, the IL-17 levels showed a decline, whereas the TGF-β levels showed an increase (P b .001). With respect to individual components of MS, TGF-β and IL-17 showed a significant association with blood pressure and blood glucose even after adjusting for age and sex. We report that IL-17 levels are decreased, whereas TGF-β levels are increased, among Asian Indians with MS.