Obesity as a Risk and Severity Factor in Rheumatic Diseases (Autoimmune Chronic Inflammatory Diseases)

Abstract

The growing body of evidence recognizing the adipose tissue (AT) as an active endocrine organ secreting bioactive mediators involved in metabolic and inflammatory disorders, together with the global epidemic of overweight and obesity, rise obesity as a hot topic of current research. The chronic state of low-grade inflammation present in the obese condition and the multiple pleiotropic effects of adipokines on the immune system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory conditions including rheumatic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. We will discuss the main relevant evidences on the role of the AT on immune and inflammatory networks and the more recent evidences regarding the effects of obesity on the incidence and outcomes of the major autoimmune chronic inflammatory diseases.

Adiponectin profile at baseline is correlated to progression and severity of multiple sclerosis

“…The observed increased MSSS is independent of BMI, sex and disease duration. This apparent paradoxical regulation of adiponectin in patients with MS may be explained by a different pathophysiology of adipose tissue in these patients . Our results are in line with a recent report of Çoban et al .…”

Childhood Residential and Agricultural Pesticide Exposures in Relation to Adult-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women

“…Most research on prenatal and earlylife DDT exposure has focused on outcomes such as obesity, neurodevelopment, and breast cancer (37)(38)(39). However, shared mechanisms may provide links to RA; for example, endocrine disruption, inflammation, and stress response (40)(41)(42). In a US population sample (1999)(2000)(2001), organochlorine levels were elevated in women with self-reported RA (43).…”

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in resistin gene with rheumatoid arthritis in a Chinese population

“…Moreover, stimulated articular adipose tissue would highly produce classical adipokines and a wide range of pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines . Studies have demonstrated that adipokines, which have the function to modulate various processes including inflammatory and metabolism, might be involved in the pathophysiology of obesity‐related diseases including RA . Increased adipokine levels were also found in the plasma and synovial fluid from RA patients, and the results implied that adipokines were involved in the pathogenesis of RA by exerting effective modulatory effects on target tissues and cells including cartilage, synovium, bone, and various immune cells …”