Aims/hypothesis  

The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa-B (NFκB) is implicated in inflammatory responses, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, while immune cells appear to play a central role in mediating insulin resistance and can be used as a model to study inflammation and its relationship with insulin resistance. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells of overweight participants with the metabolic syndrome, we evaluated (1) the effect of diet-induced weight loss on the expression of genes involved in NFκB activation and (2) their association with insulin sensitivity. The genes studied were: TNF receptors TNFRSF1A and TNFRSF1B, and IL1R1, TLR4, TLR2, ICAM1, CCL5 and IKBKB.

Methods  

We analysed data from 34 overweight participants with abnormal glucose metabolism and the metabolic syndrome, who were randomised to a weight-reduction (n = 24) or control group (n = 10) for 33 weeks. The mRNA expression was measured using real-time PCR. Measures of insulin and glucose homeostasis were assessed by IVGTT and OGTT.

Results  

In general, the genes studied were downregulated after weight loss intervention. The changes in TLR4, TLR2, CCL5 and TNFRSF1A mRNA expression were associated with an increase in insulin sensitivity index independently of the change in waist circumference (p < 0.05). The change in IKBKB expression correlated with most of the changes in gene expression in the weight-reduction group.

Conclusions/interpretation  

These results suggest that proteins encoded by CCL5, TLR2 and TLR4, and TNFRSF1A might contribute to insulin-resistant states that characterise obesity and the metabolic syndrome.