IL-6 is a cytokine mediator in inflammation and stress, produced by different cell groups, including adipocytes, it has been found associated with BMI(Reference Hotamisligil, Arner and Atkinson1). TNFα is a cytokine produced by monocytes, lymphocytes, adipose tissue and muscle(Reference Recasens, Ricart and Fernández-Real2), it is able to increase production of IL-6, the adipose tissue of obese individuals have an over-expression of mRNA for TNFα receptor 2 in relation to BMI(Reference Fried, Bunkin and Greenberg3).
The aim of the present study was to provide reference values of some cytokines in Mexican adolescents by BMI status. A cross-sectional sample of 115 adolescents aged 12–18 years, from the city of Toluca, Mexico, was measured for weight and height for BMI calculation, they were divided into non-overweight, risk of overweight/overweight according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) paediatric criteria. IL-6 and TNFα from stimulated supernatant were analysed with Human Th1–Th2 cytokine Cytometric Bead Array II kit (BD Biosciences Pharmigen, San Diego, CA, USA), and detected by flow cytometry (Facs Diva, BD®)(Reference Rodríguez-Caballero, García-Montero and Bueno4).
As we show, in subjects with risk of overweight or overweight values of both IL-6 and TNFα are lower in comparison with non-overweight adolescents; however, statistical differences were not found. This information may be used in the future as both, reference values and comparison points by gender, BMI status, ethnic and technique of determination.