Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 P534

ICEECE2012 Poster Presentations Diabetes (248 abstracts)

Suppressive effect of hyperinsulinemia on serum interleukin 18 concentration in young healthy subjects

M. Straczkowski 1, , M. Karczewska-Kupczewska 1 , A. Adamska 1 , A. Nikolajuk 2 , N. Matulewicz 1 , M. Zielinska 1 , M. Gorska 1 & I. Kowalska 1


Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.


Introduction: Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokine which is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. It is supposed that insulin has anti-inflammatory action. The aim of the present study was to estimate serum IL-18 concentration in young healthy population, its regulation by hyperinsulinemia and relationship with insulin sensitivity and glucose and lipid oxidation.

Methods: We studied 36 healthy male subjects (mean age, 24.50±2.67; mean BMI, 25.77±3.70 kg/m2). Serum IL-18 concentration was measured before and after 2 hour euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. In 18 subjects, clamp was prolonged to 6 hours and at the end an additional measurement of serum IL-18 was taken. Respiratory quotient (RQ) and glucose and lipid oxidation (LOx) were assessed with indirect calorimetry in the baseline state and every 2 hours of the clamp.

Results: Hyperinsulinemia decreased serum IL-18, this effect was present both in 2 and 6 hours of the clamp (both p<0.001). Additionally, serum IL-18 decreased from 2 to 6 hour (p=0.044). Two-hour and 6 hour serum IL-18 values were positively related to plasma free fatty acids in the respective time-points (r=0.43, P=0.033 and r=0.52, P=0.028). Two-hour and 6 hour serum IL-18 were also negatively related to RQ (r=−0.40, p=0.018 and r=−0.54, p=0.02) and positively to LOx (r=0.46, p=0.006 and r=0.66, p=0.004) in the respective time-points. Six-hour IL-18 was negatively related to insulin sensitivity calculated for the 6th hour of the clamp (r=−0.53, p=0.025). The change in serum IL-18 in response to insulin was inversely related to the white blood cell count (r=−0.52, P=0.027) and the neutrophil cell count (r=−0.56, P=0.016), i.e., the higher the cell count, the lower the decrease in IL-18.

Conclusion: Serum IL-18 is negatively regulated by hyperinsulinemia, suggesting anti-inflammatory effect of insulin. IL-18 is related to decreased insulin sensitivity mainly through its association with lipid oxidation.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details unavailable.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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