Serum levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor as a new inflammatory marker in adolescent obesity

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Obesity is known for low-grade inflammatory state with enhanced production of inflammatory mediators in children and adolescents. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) can be generated as a pro-inflammatory marker. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of suPAR, and its association with leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and fibrinogen in adolescent obesity. METHODS: A total of 98 participants, 55 obese individuals and 43 healthy controls, aged between 10 and 17 yr, were included in the study. Serum suPAR, IL-6, leptin and adiponectin were measured using ELISA method. RESULTS: Serum suPAR, IL-6, fibrinogen, hsCRP and leptin levels in obese individuals were significantly higher than those of controls (P<0.05 & P<0.001). Serum adiponectin levels in obese individuals were significantly lower than those of controls (P<0.01). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that suPAR, IL-6, fibrinogen, hsCRP and leptin were significantly higher in the obese individuals than those of controls. suPAR may be a good novel biomarker for systemic subclinical inflammation and immune activation linked to adolescent obesity.