Sumarac-Dumanovic, M. (7801558773)M. (7801558773)Sumarac-DumanovicStevanovic, D. (25226966200)D. (25226966200)StevanovicLjubic, A. (6701387628)A. (6701387628)LjubicJorga, J. (6602324495)J. (6602324495)JorgaSimic, M. (7005712342)M. (7005712342)SimicStamenkovic-Pejkovic, D. (24382126100)D. (24382126100)Stamenkovic-PejkovicStarcevic, V. (7005374307)V. (7005374307)StarcevicTrajkovic, V. (7004516866)V. (7004516866)TrajkovicMicic, D. (7006038410)D. (7006038410)Micic2025-06-122025-06-122009https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.216https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-58149512325&doi=10.1038%2fijo.2008.216&partnerID=40&md5=29926eb68349ad96460de37e801eff02https://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/10579Objective: To compare the concentrations of cytokines belonging to Th17 axis (interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23) and Th1 axis (IL-12 and interferon (IFN)-γ) in obese and lean women, and to investigate their relationships with the proinflammatory adipokine leptin, proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and anthropometric and metabolic parameters of obesity. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Twenty-six obese women (age 20-52 years, body mass index (BMI): 30-48 kg/m2) and 20 healthy lean women (age 23-46 years, BMI: 18-25 kg/m2). Measurements: Plasma levels of cytokines and leptin, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and insulin resistance index HOMA (homeostatic model assessment). Results: Blood concentrations of IL-17, IL-23, MIF and leptin, but not IL-12 or IFN-γ, were higher in obese compared with lean women (P=0.002, 0.046, 0.006 and 0.002, respectively). There was a positive correlation between IL-17 and IL-23 (r s=0.530), which was at the border of statistical significance (P=0.065). Neither IL-17 nor IL-23 correlated with leptin or MIF, and there was no association between IL-17 and IL-23 levels with BMI, WC or HOMA index. Conclusion: Interleukin-23/IL-17 axis is stimulated in obese women independently of the increase in abdominal fat, insulin resistance, leptin and MIF levels. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.CytokineIL-17IL-23InflammationLeptinMIF