The body mass index (BMI) is significantly correlated with levels of cytokines and chemokines in cerebrospinal fluid

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 76; no. 2; pp. 514 - 518
• Main Authors: Larsson, Anders, Carlsson, Lena, Lind, Anne-Li, Gordh, Torsten, Bodolea, Constantin, Kamali-Moghaddam, Masood, Thulin, Måns
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2015
• Subjects: Age; Body Mass Index; Cerebrospinal fluid; Chemokines - cerebrospinal fluid; Cytokine; Cytokines - cerebrospinal fluid; Human; Humans; Proximity extension assay (PEA); Human; Body mass index; Cerebrospinal fluid; Proximity extension assay (PEA); Age; Cytokine
• ISSN: 1043-4666; 1096-0023; 1096-0023
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.07.010

•92 different cytokines were measured simultaneously in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).•The multiplex proximity extension assay (PEA) only requires minute sample volumes.•19 markers were significantly associated with BMI.•There is a clear effect of BMI on cytokine and chemokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid.•Data should be adjusted for BMI when comparing CSF cytokine values between patients and controls.
Cytokines and chemokines regulate many functions in the body including the brain. The interactions between adipose tissue and the central nervous system (CNS) are important for the regulation of energy balance. CNS function is also influenced by age. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI) and age on cytokine and chemokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid samples (n=89) were collected from patients undergoing routine surgical procedures. The samples were analyzed using the multiplex proximity extension assay (PEA) in which 92 different cytokines are measured simultaneously using minute sample volume. We found no significant correlations between age and cytokine levels for any of the studied markers. In contrast, at a false discovery rate of 10%, 19 markers were significantly associated with BMI (in decreasing significance: FGF-5, ADA, Beta-NGF, CD40, IL-10RB, CCL19, TGF-alpha, SIRT2, TWEAK, SCF, CSF-1, 4E-BP1, DNER, LIF-R, STAMPB, CXCL10, CXCL6, VEGF-A and CX3CL1). This study reveals a clear effect of BMI on cytokine and chemokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid.