Immune system in patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Aim. To characterize features of immune status in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and methods. 41 MS patients entered the study (mean age 55.9 + 9. 7 years). Blood free triiodthyronine (TJ), thyroxine (TJ), TTH, antibodies to thyroglobulin (abTG), thyroid peroxidase (AbTP) were studied with enzyme immunoassay; levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD 16+, CD72+ were studied with monoclonal antibodies; IgG, IgA, IgM were measured by radial immunodiffusion in gel by Manchini. The size and the structure of the thyroid were investigated with ultrasound. Results. Thyroid pathology was in 48.8% patients with MS, chronic infectious diseases (CID) - in 51.2%. MS patients free of thyroid pathology and CID had elevated blood levels of IgG, IgA, dysimmunoglobulinemia and low relative number of CD3+ lymphocytes, close correlations of Tfree with the levels ofCD3+, CD4+, CD8+, Tfree with CD72+ (r = -0.97 to +0.92), TJree with IgA, IgG (r - -0.96, r = -0.90), TTH and IgA (r = -0.89), weak negative correlations of uric acid with the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD72+and positive with CD8+, CD 16+, immunoglobulins. Combination of MS with thyroid pathology and/or CID was characterized with aggravated defects in T- and B-cell immunity, fall in IgG, IgA and changed direction of correlations of thyroid and immune statuses. Conclusion. Immune status in MS patients was characterized by stimulation of humoral immunity, dysimmunoglobulinemia, T-cell immunity deficiency. This may be related to chronic hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, antigenic stimulation with modified lipoproteins. Thyroid hormones levels positively correlate with concentrations of immunocytes and negatively - with immunoglobulins.

Keywords

• metabolic syndrome (insulin resistence syndrome)
• t-, b-lymphocytes
• immunoglobulins
• immune deficiency