The Role of Serum CC-Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2) in Obesity: A Comparative Study with Normal Subjects

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Warmadewa, Denpasar 80239, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: asrilestarini@warmadewa.ac.id

Abstract

Excess fat in the visceral area in the form of obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome. Various factors have been identified that contribute to the pathophysiology of obesity-related metabolic diseases, including chronic inflammatory factors and immune system activation. One of the components of the immune and inflammatory system is CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), which is secreted by adipose cells. This study aimed to analyze the role of CCL2 by comparing the serum CCL2 levels between obese and non-obese subjects at Warmadewa University. Employing a cross-sectional design, sixty participants were selected through consecutive sampling and assessed for body weight, height, and serum CCL2 levels using the ELISA method. Data were analysed using the independent t-test. The p-value <0.05 was significant. This study indicated that serum CCL2 levels were significantly lower in obese individuals, measuring 111.57 ± 33.51 pg/mL, compared to 133.44 ± 44.91 pg/mL in individuals with normal weight. This difference was statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.0370. CCL2 levels in normal subjects were found to be higher than in obese subjects, suggesting a possible alteration in chemokine regulation associated with obesity. Further studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms.