Obesity was associated with an upregulation in the gene expression of IL-1β (p < 0.05), IL-6 (p < 0.01) and NOX-4 (p < 0.05), and with a downregulation in the mRNA levels of the antioxidant enzymes GPX-3 and SOD-1 (p < 0.01 for both) in aortic tissue. Here, SOD1 is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.