Does apolipoprotein A-II polymorphism interact with the association of obesity and serum inflammatory biomarkers in type 2 diabetes patients?

Background: The objective was to investigate the relationship between serum interleukin-18 (IL-18), pentraxin 3 (PTX3), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels with body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity and also the interaction between genetic variants of apolipoprotein A-II (Apo A-II) and obesity on the levels of these factors in type 2 diabetes patients (T2D). Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 21 diabetes centers in Tehran. Totally, 180 (35-65 years) T2D patients were divided into two groups of 90 obese (BMI ≥ 30) and 90 non-obese (BMI 30), according to the BMI with equal numbers of each genotype of Apo A-II: 30 TT, 30 CC, and 30 TC. Serum IL-18, PTX3, and hs-CRP concentrations were compared between two obese and non-obese groups and between subjects with and without central obesity. To investigate the interaction of Apo A-II genetic variants and BMI with inflammatory factors, general linear model was used. Results: After adjusting data with confounding factors, the mean of serum PTX3 was significantly lower (p 0.050) in the obese diabetes than non-obese diabetes subjects. Moreover, obese diabetes had higher serum hs-CRP level that on obese subjects (p 0.010). No significant interaction between Apo A-II 265 T C polymorphism and BMI on inflammatory biomarkers was observed. Conclusion: There was a significant difference in inflammatory markers (PTX3 and hs-CRP concentration) between obese and non-obese diabetes. In addition, there was no interaction of Apo A-II 265 T C genotypes and BMI on inflammatory markers. Weight control may be recommended to modulate inflammation and its complications in obese patients.