The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors that are highly associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased serum levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-18 have been reported to be associated with CVD. Recently, IL-18 has been shown to be predictive for cardiovascular events in subjects with MetS. We have investigated the expression of PAI-1, IL-6 and IL-18 in subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) of subjects with (n = 22) and without (n = 36) MetS. Furthermore, we have analysed the expression of IL-18 in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) in an in vitro model of hyperglycaemia.
We studied the expression of PAI-1, IL-6 and IL-18 in biopsies of subcutaneous adipose tissue using Real-time PCR. After isolation and cultivation of MDMs, expression of IL-18 was determined by Real-time PCR.
Expression of IL-18 was increased in subcutaneous AT of subjects with MetS (p