Gene Expression of IL-18 and NLRP3 in Adipose Tissue Strongly Associate with Glucometabolic Variables and with the Amount of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Assessed by CT

Aim: Previous studies have indicated an association between the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-18 and glucose. IL-18 is expressed as an inactive precursor, being activated when cleaved by caspase-1, which is activated by the assembling of the NLRP3-inflammasome. We aimed to investigate any associations between glucometabolic variables and serum levels of IL-18 (sIL-18) and genetic expression of its regulators caspase-1 and NLRP3 in adipose tissue (AT). Further, whether gene expression of these mediators in AT are related to the amount and distribution of abdominal AT (AAT) divided into subcutaneous, deep subcutaneous and visceral AT (SSAT, DSAT and VAT).