Elevated levels of Th17 cells in children with central obesity

<b><i>Background</i>.</b> It is believed that the recently discovered interleukin 17-producing Th17 cells play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation in the course of obesity and diabetes. <b><i>Objectives</i>.</b> The purpose of our study was to complete data on this subject in children. <b><i>Methods</i>.</b> We assessed Th17 cell levels in the peripheral blood of children diagnosed with central obesity (<i>n</i> = 14) and compared the results with data obtained in patients with newly diagnosed (<i>n</i> = 11) and long-term type 1 diabetes mellitus (<i>n</i> = 18), and in a control group as well (<i>n</i> = 24). <b><i>Results</i>.</b> (i) Children with central obesity were characterized by higher percentages of Th17 cells as compared to children from the control group; (ii) in the peripheral blood of patients with long-term type 1 diabetes the Th17 cell counts were higher compared to the control group; (iii) total plasma cholesterol concentration correlated positively with Th17/Treg cells ratio; and (iv) among patients with long-term diabetes, disease duration correlated positively with Th17 cell count and Th17/Th1 cell ratio. <b><i>Conclusion</i>.</b> The results of our study indicate that Th17 cells may be involved in chronic inflammation accompanying obesity and type 1 diabetes mellitus in children.