Th1/Th2 Balance in Young Subjects: Relationship with Cytokine Levels and Metabolic Profile

Ines Matia-Garcia,1 Eduardo Vadillo,2 Rosana Pelayo,3 José F Muñoz-Valle,4 Mariel García-Chagollán,4 Jaqueline Loaeza-Loaeza,1 Amalia Vences-Velázquez,1 Lorenzo Salgado-Goytia,1 Samuel García-Arellano,4 Isela Parra-Rojas1 1Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, México; 2Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Oncológicas, Hospital de Oncología, Centro Médico Nacional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, México; 3Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Atlixco, Puebla, México; 4Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, MéxicoCorrespondence: Isela Parra-RojasLaboratorio de Investigación en Obesidad y Diabetes, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, 39090, MéxicoTel +52 7474719310Email iprojas@yahoo.comPurpose: We aim to identify Th1 and Th2 cell clusters in young subjects, including their clinical and metabolic characteristics and the Th1/Th2 balance.Patients and Methods: A total of 100 participants were included. The frequencies of Th1 and Th2 cells in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. Serum C-reactive protein was measured using a turbidimetric assay, and insulin levels were quantified with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Circulating cytokine levels were analyzed using a multiplex system.Results: A cluster analysis was performed to determine the Th1/Th2 balance in a group of young people, and 3 clusters were formed with the following characteristics: 1) subjects with a higher prevalence of hyperglycemia (38%), dyslipidemia (38– 75%), and insulin resistance (50%), as well as a higher percentage of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 ratio, including elevated IFN-ɣ levels; 2) subjects with a lower prevalence of hyperglycemia (23%) and insulin resistance (15.4%), but a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (8– 85%) with a predominance of Th2 cells, and lower Th1/Th2 ratio; 3) subjects with a lower prevalence of hyperglycemia (6%), insulin resistance (41%), and dyslipidemia (10– 63%), as well as a balance of Th1 and Th2 cells and lower Th1/Th2 ratio, including low IFN-ɣ levels. Positive correlations between Th1 cells with IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-1β and between Th2 cells with IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 were found (p < 0.05). A significant increase in Th1 cells was observed in the presence of hyperglycemia and high LDL-C levels, as well as increased Th2 cells in the absence of abdominal obesity and high blood pressure, including low HDL-C levels. The Th1/Th2 ratio was higher in the group with high cardiometabolic risk (p = 0.03).Conclusion: Th1/Th2 balance is related to metabolic abnormalities that may occur in young population, and thus the timely identification of different phenotypes may help predict an increased cardiometabolic risk.Keywords: Th1 cells, Th2 cells, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemias, IFN-ɣ levels