Inflammation and Metabolic Syndrome

The relationship among inflammatory markers: C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, white blood cells count and metabolic syndrome has been observed in experimental, clinical and epidemiological studies. High levels of inflammatory markers are related to increased body mass index (BMI), increased serum lipoproteins, high blood glucose, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Probably the chronic inflammation triggers insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In genetically and metabolically predisposed persons different stimuli (overnutrition, increased hypothalamus-hypophyseal activity) can cause pro-inflammatory cytokine oversecretion and provoke insulin resistance and diabetes. The increased acute phase protein levels can be related to decreased insulin sensitivity of hepatocytes. Insulin exerted selective effects on liver protein synthesis with increased albumin synthesis and decreased fibrinogen and CRP production. Insulin resistance leads to increased synthesis of fibrinogen and CRP. The level of inflammatory markers is predictive of the development of cardiovascular diseases. CRP is pointed out as the most perspective marker for chronic subclinical inflammation, participating in metabolic syndrome. The evidences for the role of inflammation in the genesis of metabolic syndrome is still not well defined. Additional population based, clinical and basic investigations are needed to confirm this relation. Future studies will help to estimate the efficiency of inflammatory marker detection in the prophylaxis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.