Association between inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance in Indian hypertensive patients

Background & objectivesThe importance of inflammatory cytokines in the regulation of arterial pressure and pathogenesis of hypertension has yet to be fully elucidated. Hence in the present study we examined the association of inflammatory cytokine and insulin resistance in Indian hypertensive patients.MethodsA total of 124 subjects including 41 controls, 41 obese and 42 hypertensive patients were recruited in this cross sectional study. Serum levels of inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6(IL6), resistin and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Insulin resistance (IR) index was calculated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). The association between these variables was studied by bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis.ResultsAmong the hypertensive patients only the obese hypertensive exhibits significantly increased HOMA-IR and inflammatory cytokine compared to non-obese control subjects. In the bivariate correlation analysis serum resistin was significantly associated with the obesity parameter like body mass index (BMI), the inflammatory cytokine like IL6 and CRP and HOMA-IR in hypertensive patients. Interestingly resistin levels were also significantly associated with blood pressure and triglyceride levels in control subjects. However, in multiple logistic regression analysis TNFα was found to be a strong predictor of hypertension in the study population.ConclusionA complex network of inflammatory cytokine and acute phase reactant (CRP) are involved in the development of IR and related disease like hypertension (HTN). Therefore detailed investigation in this area will help in development of new therapeutic approach.