Endocrine Abstracts

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension, that is associated with cardiovascular disease and inflammatory metabolic disorders. This study aimed to ascertain the effect of selected parameters of purinergic and cholinergic systems in lymphocytes of MetS patients. The adenosine deaminase (ADA), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, as well as γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and N-acetyl-b-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities in lymphocytes of patients with MetS (n=38) and controls (n=41) were evaluated. ADA and DPP-IV activities were markedly higher in lymphocytes of patients with MetS (ADA=8.44±3.79 U/l, P < 0.05; DPP-IV=74.26±37.84 U/l, P < 0.0001) when compared to the control group (ADA=6.86±2.52; DPP-IV=46.02±20.93). Experimental data also demonstrated that patients with MetS showed a significant increase on AChE activity when compared to the values of healthy subjects (MetS=0.16±0.052 vs C=0.1062±0.028 μmol AcSCh/h/ml; P<0.0001). However, no significant difference was found in NAG (MetS=37.46±18.75 vs C=49.06±30.74 μmol/l) and GGT (MetS=5.568±3.09 vs C=5.22±2.99 μmol/L) activities between the groups studied.

Our data suggest that the tissue distress and activation of the immune system observed in MetS patients affects enzymatic activities. The increase of DPP IV-activity observed in the MetS may be related to the interaction of ADA and DPP-IV at the T cells that results in co-stimulatory signs responsible for the activation of the T cell receptor. Also, the increase of AChE activity could be an inflammatory response caused by the insulin resistance state present by the MetS. These findings could most likely represent the sustained activation of lymphocytes in response to inflammatory stimuli of the MetS state.

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.