Connection between Telomerase Activity in PBMC and Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a constellation of metabolic derangements associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress and is widely regarded as an inflammatory condition, accompanied by an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The present study tried to investigate the implications of telomerase activity with inflammation and impaired endothelial function in patients with metabolic syndrome. Telomerase activity in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), TNF-α, IL-6 and ADMA were monitored in 39 patients with MS and 20 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Telomerase activity in PBMC, TNF-α, IL-6 and ADMA were all significantly elevated in patients with MS compared to healthy volunteers. PBMC telomerase was negatively correlated with HDL and positively correlated with ADMA, while no association between TNF-α and IL-6 was observed. IL-6 was increasing with increasing systolic pressure both in the patients with MS and in the healthy volunteers, while smoking and diabetes were positively correlated with IL-6 only in the patients' group. In conclusion, in patients with MS characterised by a strong dyslipidemic profile and low diabetes prevalence, significant telomerase activity was detected in circulating PBMC, along with elevated markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. These findings suggest a prolonged activity of inflammatory cells in the studied state of this metabolic disorder that could represent a contributory pathway in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

Demographic and clinical characteristics and biochemical parameters monitored in the patients of the study group and the healthy individuals that provided reference values for all biochemical parameters (healthy controls).

<p><i>Values are means</i>±<i>SD.</i></p>a<p> <i>Comparison between Patients with metabolic syndrome and Healthy controls.</i></p>b<p><i>Normal values or range of values for general population: TG 0–160 mg/dl, LDL optimal >100 mg/dl near optimal 100–1129 mg/dl above optimal 130–159 mg/dl borderline high 160–189 mg/dl high >190 mg/dl</i>, <i>HDL</i> >55 <i>mg/dl</i> (male), >65 <i>mg/dl</i> (female).</p><p> <i>LDL: low–density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL: high–density lipoprotein cholesterol; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor α; ACEI: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; OD: Optical Density.</i></p