Assessment of human lymphocyte proliferation associated with metabolic syndrome

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 38; no. 12; pp. 1277 - 1282
• Main Authors: Pinzón, O. A., Sánchez, J. C., Sepúlveda-Arias, J. C., López-Zapata, D. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Concanavalin A - administration & dosage; Concanavalin A - pharmacology; Endocrinology; Female; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - administration & dosage; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Insulin - administration & dosage; Insulin - pharmacology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - drug therapy; Middle Aged; Mitogens - administration & dosage; Mitogens - pharmacology; Original Article; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T lymphocytes; Lymphocyte proliferation; Metabolic syndrome; Concanavalin A; Insulin
• DOI: 10.1007/s40618-015-0307-6
• ISSN: 1720-8386

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of various metabolic conditions, has become epidemic and causes increased morbidity and mortality. Purpose The aim of this study was to compare lymphocyte proliferation under two different stimuli, Concanavalin A (ConA) and insulin, in a group of patients with MetS (Group 1) and a healthy group (Group 2). Methods Group 1 consisted of 53 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for MetS. Group 2 consisted of 63 patients without MetS. All individuals were evaluated for lipid profile and glycemia. Lymphocyte extraction and culture were performed for each subject and lymphocyte proliferation was assessed using the Alamar blue technique. Results There was no gender difference between both groups, but in terms of age, there was a significant difference. The use of Con A at concentrations of 1 and 5 µg/mL induced a high lymphocyte proliferation in both groups. In contrast, when different concentrations of insulin were added, no significant changes in lymphocyte proliferation were observed. However, the proliferation of lymphocytes was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 under insulin stimulus, which did not happen under ConA stimulation. Even after age and gender correction, this difference was maintained. Conclusions The increased lymphocyte proliferative response to insulin in patients with MetS found in this study suggests a role of the lymphocyte response to insulin in the pathophysiology of MetS. This response may be used as an immuno-biological marker for MetS, although further studies to evaluate its clinical usefulness need to be conducted.