Key result
High HbA1c in obese African Americans was associated with a 1.7-fold increase in serum IL-3 and IL-7 in women, but a 1.5-fold and 1.3-fold decrease in IL-3 and IL-7, respectively, in men.
Why the study?
Sex chromosome genes and hormones influence immune responses, and sex differences may lead to varied immune responses to type-2 diabetes in obesity.
Does high circulating glucose differentially affect serum IL-3 and IL-7 levels in African American men and women with obesity?
Cross-Sectional (n=116)
No
Does high circulating glucose differentially affect serum IL-3 and IL-7 levels in African American men and women with obesity?
Effect estimate: 1.7-fold increase in women, 1.5-fold decrease in IL-3 and 1.3-fold decrease in IL-7 in men
p-value: p=0.0007 (women), 0.03 (men IL-3), 0.04 (men IL-7)
High circulating glucose has sexually dimorphic effects on inflammatory cytokines IL-3 and IL-7 in obese African Americans, upregulating them in women and downregulating them in men.
Sex-specific IL-3/IL-7 associations with HbA1c in obese African Americans are hypothesis-generating; should not yet change practice.
Purpose: Obesity, a complex chronic disorder characterized by the enlargement of adipose tissue, has a multifactorial etiology. Adipose tissue is now recognized as an active tissue in the regulation of inflammation. Sex chromosome genes and hormones influences immune responses between males and females. Inflammation is rampant in obesity due to the expansion of visceral adipose tissue leading to insulin resistance resulting in type-2 diabetes (T2D). Differences in sex may lead to varied immune responses to T2D.Methods: A total of 116 serum samples were collected from African Americans: 68 women and 48 men. All participants had a BMI > 30. This group consists of 49 normal HbA1c and 71 high HbA1c participants. This study was designed to determine the impact of current circulating glucose on current serum IL-3 and IL-7 levels.Results:Serum cytokine levels are influenced by circulating high glucose and it varies based on sex. We found in women, IL-3 and IL-7 levels were upregulated 1.7-fold in the presence of high circulating glucose. In men, IL-3 levels were downregulated 1.5-fold and IL-7 levels downregulated 1.3-fold in the presence of high circulating glucose. IL-3 and IL-7 serum levels are also correlated with several lipid parameters.Conclusion: IL-3 and IL-7 are members of a complex network of cytokines that play a role in chronic inflammation. Inflammatory signaling impact several diseases including obesity, T2D, atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia. A better understanding of the pathological signaling of cytokines will help facilitate our understanding of inflammation in these diseases.
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Williams et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes (n=116). High HbA1c (>7.0) vs. Normal HbA1c (≤6.5) was evaluated on Serum IL-3 and IL-7 levels (1.7-fold increase in women, 1.5-fold decrease in IL-3 and 1.3-fold decrease in IL-7 in men, p=0.0007 (women), 0.03 (men IL-3), 0.04 (men IL-7)). High HbA1c in obese African Americans was associated with a 1.7-fold increase in serum IL-3 and IL-7 in women, but a 1.5-fold and 1.3-fold decrease in IL-3 and IL-7, respectively, in men.
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