Metabolic syndrome, a multifactorial disease, causes complications like cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. As metabolic syndrome develops, altered levels of cytokines and miRNAs are measured in the circulation. We constructed a panel detecting abnormal levels of cytokines and miRNAs in patients at risk for metabolic syndrome. Participants included 54 patients from a Family Medicine Clinic at Marshall University School of Medicine and were grouped based on BMI and metabolic syndrome diagnosis: Control, Obese, Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, leptin: adiponectin ratio, IL-6, six microRNAs (320a, 197-3p, 23-3p, 221-3p, 27a-3p, and 130a-3p), were measured. Among the three groups, leptin, and leptin: adiponectin ratio, and IL-6 levels were highest in MetS, and levels in Obese were greater than Control (p>0.05). Adiponectin levels were lower in Obese compared to Control, but lowest in MetS (p<0.05). MiRNA levels were lowest MetS, and levels in Obese were lower than Control (p>0.05). Our results support the clinical application of biomarkers to diagnose early stage metabolic syndrome, in this population. This would enable attenuation of disease progression before onset of irreversible complications. Since West Virginians are high-risk for developing metabolic syndrome, our biomarker panel could reduce the disease burden on our population.
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
