Serum leptin and cytokines in whole blood in relation to clinical and nutritional status in cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES

Leptin plays an important role in the energy balance and may be affected by hormonal and metabolic derangement associated with chronic disease. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between leptin, proinflammatory cytokines and nutritional status with regard to clinical status in homozygous delta F 508 cystic fibrosis patients.

METHODS

Patients with mild (Shwachman score 71-100 points, group A) disease were compared with those with moderate disease (Shwachman score 41-55 points, group B) and age-matched controls (group C, n = 22). Leptin was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and cytokines (interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha) before and after stimulation with 5 ng lipopolysaccharide by a chemiluminescent immunometric assay.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were recruited for each group (median A/B/C forced expiratory volume in 1 second 80%/59%/-; median age 12/13.5/12.5 years). Leptin (median 3.25/2.65/3.3 pg/mL; P = 0.083) and body mass index were lower (group A/B/C 18.55/16.75/20.5 kg/m(2); P = 0.023), but dietary intake was significantly higher (group A/B/C 50.5/68/43 kcal/kg body weight; P = 0.026) in moderate disease. Cytokines before stimulation with lipopolysaccharide were highest in moderate disease, but there was no significant difference after stimulation (interleukin-8 median A/B/C before--15/25.1/8.0 pg/mL, P < 0.005; after--570.5/573.5/415.5 pg/mL, not significant; tumor necrosis factor alpha median A/B/C 43/56/30 pg/mL, P < 0.0001; 580/427/720.5 pg/mL, not significant.).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a physiological regulation of leptin even in more advanced states of disease with significantly lower body mass index than controls. However, our data do not support the idea of elevated cytokine levels inducing anorexia in homozygous delta F 508 cystic fibrosis patients.