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Summary Objective Macrophages are known to be involved in low-grade inflammatory processes such as obesity. soluble cluster of differentiation 163 (sCD163) is shed from the cell surface as specific macrophage activation marker. In prepubertal children, we studied if circulating sCD163 is associated with metabolic and cardiovascular risk markers. Methods A population of 236 school-aged Caucasian children (111 girls and 125 boys) aged 8 ± 1 year [81 normal weight (body mass index [BMI]-SDS

Summary Background Increased uric acid is an independent biomarker for cardiovascular disease in obese adolescents and adults. Objective We investigated whether uric acid relates to carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in prepubertal children, and whether body mass index (BMI) and preperitoneal fat modulate this association. Methods 359 asymptomatic prepubertal Caucasian children were stratified according to BMI categories (171 with BMI-SDS 50th centile). Uric acid levels, insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance; HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein (CRP), triacylglycerol (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), abdominal fat and cIMT (both by ultrasound) were assessed. Results Uric acid was associated with several cardiovascular risk factors, namely higher HOMA-IR, CRP, TG, BMI, waist, SBP, preperitoneal fat and cIMT (all P

Summary What is already known about this subject The adaptive immune system has been shown to be a novel modulator of insulin resistance. Increased activation of B lymphocytes has been described in obese mice and in obese and type 2 diabetic patients. B lymphocytes promote insulin resistance by accumulating in adipose tissue and producing pathogenic antibodies. What this study adds Increased serum concentrations of IgG and IgA were found in overweight pre-pubertal children. Increasing concentrations of IgG and IgA were in obese, but not in lean pre-pubertal children, associated with a less favourable metabolic phenotype, consisting of increased insulin resistance and a more adverse lipid profile. Background The adaptive immune system has emerged as an unexpected modulator of insulin resistance. B lymphocytes accumulate in adipose tissue and produce pathogenic antibodies that cause insulin resistance. Objective We studied whether circulating immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) were related to metabolic risk markers in pre-pubertal children with and without overweight. Design and methods Subjects were 270 asymptomatic pre-pubertal Caucasian children (145 lean, 125 overweight) recruited in a primary care setting. Assessments included serum IgG, IgA and IgM concentrations (nephelometry), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting lipids (triacylglycerol and high-density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol). Results Overweight children had higher IgG and IgA serum levels than lean children (P ≤ 0.01). Increasing serum IgG and IgA, but not IgM, were associated with a less favourable metabolic phenotype, consisting of higher HOMA-IR and triacylglycerol and lower HDL-cholesterol, particularly in obese children, in whom serum IgG and IgA were both independently associated with HOMA-IR (β = 0.308, P = 0.017, r2 = 9.5% and β = 0.361, P = 0.005, r2 = 13.0%, respectively) and triacylglycerol (β = 0.343, P = 0.006, r2 = 11.1% and β = 0.354, P = 0.003, r2 = 12.2%, respectively). Conclusions Increased circulating IgG and IgA in overweight children are associated with a less favourable metabolic phenotype, particularly in obese children. These results suggest a relationship between adaptive immunity and insulin resistance in childhood obesity.