NF-κB binding activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression correlate with body mass index but not glycosylated hemoglobin in Chinese population

Abstract 

Aims

Chronic inflammation is linked to type 2 diabetes (T2DM), so we investigated correlations between obesity, blood glucose levels, and inflammation in T2DM patients.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 40 T2DM patients (27 men, 13 women; mean age 49.63 years), and 10 non-diabetic controls (all men; mean age 38.60 years). Inflammation was measured as DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), a key transcription factor in inflammation. Protein levels of NF-κB subunit p65, and NF-κB inhibitor IκBα were assessed by Western blot. Transcript levels for p65, IκBα, and the NF-κB target genes TNF-α, MMP-9, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18 were measured by real-time PCR. Body mass index (BMI) and glycohemoglobin were measured for all the subjects.

Results

NF-κB DNA-binding activity, p65 and IκBα protein levels, and expression of IL-6, TNFα and MMP-9 were significantly higher in PBMCs from T2DM patients, than from non-diabetic controls. NF-κB binding was significantly positively associated with both BMI and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Conclusions

Inflammation was observed in PBMCs in T2DM patients in a Chinese population, and correlated independently with obesity and blood glucose levels. Lack of correlation with glycohemoglobin suggested that moderate-term blood glucose control did not mitigate inflammation.

Keywords: Inflammation, Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Glycosylated hemoglobin, Chinese population