Korean J Pediatr.  2016 May;59(5):231-238. 10.3345/kjp.2016.59.5.231.

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein plasma levels as a biomarker of obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents

• Kim KE
• Cho YS
• Baek KS
• Li L
• Baek KH
• Kim JH
• Kim HS
• Sheen YH

• KMID: 2164987
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2016.59.5.231

Abstract

PURPOSE
Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is a 65-kDa acute phase protein, derived from the liver, which is present in high concentrations in plasma. Data regarding the association between circulating plasma LBP levels and obesity-related biomarkers in the pediatric population are scarce. We aimed to determine whether there was a difference in plasma LBP levels between overweight/obese and normal-weight adolescents and to assess the correlation of circulating LBP levels with anthropometric measures and obesity-related biomarkers, including insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles.
METHODS
The study included 87 adolescents aged 12-13 years; 44 were overweight/obese and 43 were of normal-weight. We assessed anthropometric and laboratory measures, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles. Plasma LBP levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS
The mean age of the participants was 12.9±0.3 years. Circulating plasma LBP levels were significantly increased in overweight/obese participants compared with those in normal-weight participants (7.8±1.9 µg/mL vs. 6.0±1.6 µg/mL, P<0.001). LBP levels were significantly and positively associated with BMI, systolic blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance as indicated by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (all P<0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, BMI and HOMA-IR were independently and positively associated with plasma LBP levels.
CONCLUSION
LBP is an inflammatory biomarker associated with BMI and obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents. The positive correlation between these parameters suggests a potentially relevant pathophysiological mechanism linking LBP to obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents.

Keyword

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein; Body mass index; Insulin resistance; Adolescent; Obesity

MeSH Terms

Acute-Phase Proteins
Adolescent*
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Biomarkers
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Cholesterol
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Fasting
Glucose
Humans
Insulin Resistance*
Insulin*
Linear Models
Liver
Obesity
Plasma*
Acute-Phase Proteins
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Biomarkers
Cholesterol
Glucose
Insulin