The Role of PAI-1 and Adiponectin on the Inflammatory State and Energy Balance in Obese Adolescents with Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disease and is considered a risk factor for metabolic syndrome. In this study, 57 obese adolescents with and without metabolic syndrome underwent 1 year of weight loss therapy. At baseline, the metabolic syndrome (MS) patients presented higher values of PAI-1 than the non-metabolic syndrome patients (n-MS). After therapy, significant improvements in anthropometrics and biochemical, inflammatory, and neuroendocrine variables were observed in both groups. However, the n-MS group presented better results than the MS group. Indeed, we found positive correlations in both groups between PAI-1 and neuropeptide Y (NPY) and between PAI-1 and NPY/AgRP. Inflammatory biomarkers may thus play a role in energy balance. The clinical trial registration number is NCT01358773.