Elevated Chemerin Levels in Pakistani Men: An Interrelation with Metabolic Syndrome Phenotypes

Syeda Sadia Fatima,Abdul Shakoor Memon,Kiymet Bozaoglu,Faiza Alam,Rehana Rehman,Pascale Chavatte-Palmer

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057113

Syeda Sadia Fatima, Abdul Shakoor Memon + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057113

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Abstract

Chemerin is a novel protein linked to adipocyte differentiation and the development of metabolic imbalances. We sought to examine the relationship of chemerin with metabolic syndrome disturbances including body fat percentage, serum lipid, glucose, insulin levels and body fat percentage in lean and obese volunteers. A cross-sectional study of 90 randomly selected healthy males from Pakistan were divided into three groups as per Body Mass Index (BMI) criteria for South Asian Population. Anthropometric measurements were taken for BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and body fat percentage, while serum analyses were performed for fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, fasting lipid profile and serum chemerin. Associations between serum chemerin levels and body fat and other metabolic syndrome parameters were performed using ANOVA and multiple regression analyses. Data was presented as Mean±SD. In all statistical analyses p-values <0.05 were considered significant. Circulating chemerin levels were significantly higher in obese subjects with BMI greater than 25 kg/m2 compared with those with a BMI below 25 kg/m2 (P = 0.001). Serum chemerin levels were found to be independently and significantly associated with serum levels of cholesterol (P = 0.0160; r = 0.255), fasting glucose (P = 0.002; r = 0.323), HOMA-IR (P = 0.004; r = 0.300) and hip circumference (P = 0.021; r = 0.246). This demonstrates that chemerin levels are associated with obesity and dyslipidemia and may play a role in the development of insulin resistance. This data suggests that chemerin may serve as an independent marker in diagnosing these conditions even before they become clinically symptomatic.

Highlights

Over the past few years, obesity has become a global epidemic and has emerged as a major health problem associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia and an increased mortality rate [1,2,3]
A total of 90 male subjects participated in this study and were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI) criteria for South Asian population [28]
Serum chemerin concentration was significantly increased in the obese group (Group C) (76.4613.4) as compared to the normal weight group (Group A) (12.063.3) and overweight group (Group B) (17.266.1) (P = 0.001; (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

Over the past few years, obesity has become a global epidemic and has emerged as a major health problem associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia and an increased mortality rate [1,2,3]. Troiano et al [7] and Jafer et al [8] revealed that according to the Asian specific body mass index (BMI) cutoff value of 23 kg/m2, 1 in 4 people in Pakistan over the age of 15 years are overweight or obese. The key element of obesity is white adipose tissue, which acts as a multifunctional endocrine tissue, regulating adipocyte biology and systemic processes like food intake, nutrient metabolism, insulin sensitivity bone growth, inflammation and reproduction [9], leading to an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes [10,11]. Serum biomarkers have emerged as important tools for prediction, diagnosis, and risk stratification for patients with obesity related co morbidities [12,13]

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