leptin and Vasculitis

Obesity is becoming a global epidemic. Around 1.1 billion adults and 10% of the world's children are currently overweight or considered obese. Generally associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as Diabetes Mellitus and systemic arterial high blood pressure, the obesity has been more and more seen as an independent risk factor for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Coronary arteriosclerosis comprises a series of inflammatory responses at cellular and molecular level, whose reactions are stronger in obese patients. In the past, the adipose tissue was regarded as a mere fat deposition. Now it is seen from a totally different standpoint, as an active endocrine and paracrine organ that produces several inflammatory cytokines, such as the adipokines. This article aims to raise awareness about obesity as an increasingly significant public health issue over the past decades, as well as to relate the intense inflammatory process in obese individuals with an increased tendency for this group of individuals to develop CAD.

Topics: Adiponectin; C-Reactive Protein; Coronary Artery Disease; Endothelium, Vascular; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Leptin; Obesity; Risk Factors; Vasculitis

The chemoattractant protein chemerin has recently been shown to be expressed in adipose tissue.. We aimed to evaluate the association of chemerin with obesity and early-onset metabolic and vascular sequelae in children.. We quantified chemerin serum levels in 69 lean and 105 obese children and assessed associations with metabolic and cardiovascular parameters. In addition, a potential direct effect of chemerin on the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules and cell viability was assessed in human coronary artery endothelial cells in vitro.. Chemerin concentrations were significantly higher in obese compared to lean children and correlated with obesity-related parameters such as body mass index sd score, leptin, and skinfold thickness. Moreover, we identified significant associations with the measures of inflammation high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and white blood cell count, as well as with the markers of endothelial activation intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin. Multiple regression analyses confirmed chemerin as the strongest predictor of ICAM-1 and E-selectin independent of body mass index sd score. Likewise, on the cellular level, chemerin induced ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression in endothelial cells in vitro, whereas VCAM-1 and eNOS expression and endothelial cell viability were unaffected.. Our results suggest an association of chemerin with obesity and inflammatory and endothelial activation markers and support a role for chemerin as a molecular link between increasing fat mass and an early atherogenic risk profile in obese children.

Topics: Adiposity; Adolescent; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Chemokines; Child; Cohort Studies; Coronary Vessels; E-Selectin; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Leptin; Male; Obesity; RNA, Messenger; Vasculitis

Body fat is an important source of adipokines not only in association with energy balance, but also with inflammatory and immune responses. This study investigated the relationship between serum levels of adipokines and coronary artery aneurysm in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). Levels of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were measured in 165 cases, including 4 groups: the control group (n = 85), KD with normal coronary arteries (n = 41), KD with dilatation and/or ectasia (n = 31), and KD with coronary aneurysm (n = 8). White blood cells counts (WBC), red blood cells counts (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), Hematocrit (Hct), platelet count, C reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were tested in children. Levels of adiponectin and resistin levels were significantly elevated; hemoglobin significantly decreased in the group of KD with coronary aneurysm compared with the controls or other KD subgroups. There were markedly positive relationships between levels of resistin and CRP, and negative relationships between levels of resistin and RBC in patients with KD. Levels of adiponectin, resistin, and hemoglobin were associated with the development of coronary aneurysm in children with KD. The up-regulation of resistin secreted from adipose tissue may be closely linked to up-regulation of systemic proinflammatory markers in acute KD.

Topics: Adiponectin; Adipose Tissue; Child, Preschool; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Hematocrit; Hemoglobins; Humans; Infant; Leptin; Leukocyte Count; Male; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Platelet Count; Predictive Value of Tests; Resistin; Vasculitis

The inflammatory status of atherosclerotic lesions is a major factor triggering acute cardiovascular events. Growing evidence has shown that adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) has an important role in the development of atherosclerosis.. The objective of the study was to determine the association between circulating A-FABP levels with vascular inflammation as measured using [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), which is a novel imaging technique for noninvasive measurement of atherosclerotic inflammation.. This was a cross-sectional study.. Eighty-seven men without previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease or diabetes participated in the study.. We measured the serum A-FABP, adiponectin, and leptin levels as well as other cardiovascular risk factors. Vascular inflammation in the carotid arterial wall, as indicated by the target to background ratio (TBR), was analyzed using FDG-PET.. The circulating A-FABP and leptin levels had positive correlations with maximum TBR values (r = 0.38, P < 0.001; and r = 0.28, P = 0.010, respectively), whereas the adiponectin levels had a negative correlation (r = -0.31, P = 0.004). The maximum TBR levels exhibited an additive linear increment according to the rise in tertiles of the A-FABP levels in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome. Multiple regression analysis showed that serum A-FABP levels were independently associated with maximum TBR after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors (P = 0.006).. Circulating A-FABP, adiponectin, and leptin levels were shown to be associated with vascular inflammation, as measured using FDG-PET. Specifically, the A-FABP level was an independent risk factor for vascular inflammation in Korean men without cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Topics: Adult; Atherosclerosis; Biomarkers; Carotid Arteries; Cross-Sectional Studies; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Hemodynamics; Humans; Leptin; Lipids; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Positron-Emission Tomography; Prospective Studies; Radiopharmaceuticals; Risk Factors; Tunica Intima; Ultrasonography; Vasculitis

Topics: Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Biomarkers; Ghrelin; Humans; Leptin; Vasculitis

Topics: Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; Autoimmune Diseases; Humans; Leptin; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Vasculitis

To study serum levels of leptin and ghrelin in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).. Thirty-seven patients with AAV (21 patients with active AAV at initial presentation and during follow-up, 16 patients with AAV in long-term remission) and 21 matched healthy controls were included. Serum levels of leptin and ghrelin were measured at 0, 6 and 12 months by radioimmunoassay. Disease activity was gauged by Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), CRP and circulating endothelial cells (CECs).. Leptin levels were significantly lower in patients than in healthy controls (9.1 +/- 6.1 vs 22.3 +/- 22.4 ng/ml; P < 0.05). The difference persisted when corrected for BMI. Leptin levels increased significantly after 6 (27.8 +/- 21.9 ng/ml; P < 0.001) and 12 months (24.6 +/- 21.0 ng/ml; P < 0.001). Ghrelin levels were significantly elevated in patients compared with controls (402.6 +/- 112.9 vs 294.8 +/- 70.9 pmol/l; P < 0.005) and declined to normal values at 12 months (306.4 +/- 36.2 pmol/l). There was a significant positive correlation between ghrelin levels and disease activity, whereas leptin levels were negatively correlated with disease activity (CRP, BVAS and CECs). Accordingly, correlations between the ghrelin/leptin ratio and markers of disease activity reached the highest level of significance (all P < 0.001).. Active AAV is characterized by decreased serum leptin and increased serum ghrelin, both of which return to normal with successful therapy. The role of leptin and ghrelin during the pathogenesis of AAV and the effects of these peptides on endothelial cells warrant further study.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; Autoimmune Diseases; Biomarkers; Body Mass Index; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Ghrelin; Humans; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Vasculitis