Changes in immunologic parameters of humoral immunity and adipocytokines in obese persons are gender dependent

The aim of this study was to investigate several immunologic parameters using of immunonephelometry and adipocytokines by the enzyme immunoassay and their changes in different states of obesity. Obesity is considered to involve a state of chronic low-grade inflammation, with links between adipose cells and the immune system. We found significantly higher complement C3 levels in all obese subjects. Levels of the complement C4 were significantly higher in obese women, but not in men, when compared with the corresponding group of normal weight subjects. The increase in C-reactive protein concentrations was significant in both obese and morbidly obese women, but only in morbidly obese men. No significant differences in tumor necrosis factor–α, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule–1 were found. sE-selectin levels were higher in both overweight and obese women but only in morbidly obese men. We found decreased adiponectin concentrations in obese and morbidly obese women. Concentrations of leptin were significantly higher only in obese men (p < 0.05), whereas in women the increase in leptin levels was significant in overweight, obese, and morbidly obese subjects. In conclusion, our results demonstrate elevated levels of C3, C-reactive protein, sE-selectin, and leptin in obese women and men. In obese women, we also observed increased concentrations of C4 and decreased levels of adiponectin.