Background Obesity is associated with a state of systemic inflammation, mediated by adipose tissue-derived cytokines that may also have metabolic effects, including an effect on insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to compare the serum profile of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in obese and non-obese subjects. Methods A total of 242 subjects who were either overweight or obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m) and non-obese subjects (body mass index <25 kg/m), were recruited in Mashhad in northeastern Iran. The concentrations of serum interleukin-1α, -1β, -2, -4, -6, -8 and -10 (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10), were measured in all subjects, together with serum vascular endothelial growth factor, interferon-γ, epidermal growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumour necrosis factor-α. Results The groups differed significantly with respect to measures of adiposity and fasted lipid profile. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ and interleukin-1α, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-10, and epidermal growth factor were significantly different between obese and non-obese individuals, as was serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Multivariate regression showed that waist circumference was significantly and independently related to serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1concentrations ( P = 0.001). Conclusion Despite significant differences in several cytokines between the groups, only monocyte chemoattractant protein-1appeared to be independently related to a measure of adiposity in this population sample from Iran.

Background:Severe depression may be accompanied by immune dysregulation and is also associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD).Objectives:We investigated serum levels of 10 cytokines and their relationship with depression in patients with cardiovascular diseases as well as healthy subjects in northeast of Iran.Patients and Methods:The study was carried out on 462 subjects (120 healthy subjects and 342 candidates undergoing angiography). The healthy subjects were referred for routine annual checkups or pre-employment examinations; they did not have clinically evident CAD. A questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data and the Beck depression inventory (BDI) was applied to assess depression. The Evidence Investigator® platform was used for cytokines assays for IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1 and IFN-γ, using sandwich chemiluminescent method. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 11.5.Results:The mean age was 53.3 ± 11.5, 54.8 ± 11.3, and 59.5 ± 11.3 in healthy, angiography (-), and angiography (+) subjects, respectively (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in serum levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1 cytokines, comparing subjects with CAD and healthy persons (P < 0.05). When all subjects were divided to with and without depression regardless of their cardiovascular status, there was a significant difference in serum levels of IL-8 and IL-6 between the groups (P < 0.05). When the subgroup with features of CAD was selected and divided to those with and without depression, there was also a significant difference in serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-α (P < 0.05).Conclusions:The positive interaction between depression and CAD was probably mediated by inflammatory mechanisms.

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