Abstract
Very little is known about the role of adipokines in atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. This study aimed at analyzing the serum levels of resistin, apelin, and visfatin in children with AD in relation to body weight, AD severity, and gender. Serum concentration of adipokines was measured in 27 children with AD and in 46 healthy subjects. Selected biochemical parameters were evaluated and skin prick test was performed. Serum levels of resistin and apelin were significantly higher, whereas serum visfatin concentration was significantly lower in children with AD versus healthy controls, although an increase in resistin levels was exclusively demonstrated in boys. In AD group, a significant increase in apelin levels in girls was documented. There was no relationship between adipokines levels and the degree of allergic sensitization. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the serum apelin cutoff value differentiating children with AD from those without was >137.8 pg/mL. Resistin and visfatin cutoff values were >3.8 ng/mL and ≤ 2.13 ng/mL, respectively. Apelin and visfatin can serve as excellent indicators to distinguish children with AD from those without disease.
Highlights
Increasing literature evidence indicates that obesity is a risk factor for the development of asthma [1, 2]
Several studies suggest that some of adipokines are involved in the pathogenesis of other inflammatory disorders including asthma [7], inflammatory bowel disease [8], rheumatoid arthritis [9], and psoriasis [10]
Several reports pointed at the proinflammatory role of leptin and anti-inflammatory role of adiponectin in asthma, but the data are currently equivocal [4, 7]
Summary
Increasing literature evidence indicates that obesity is a risk factor for the development of asthma [1, 2]. Recent studies showed that adipose tissue is far more than a site for energy storage and it is an active endocrine, paracrine, and immune organ secreting multiple bioactive mediators, called adipokines. These adipokines include hormones (leptin, adiponectin), cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, and visfatin), and other proteins (apelin, resistin), which participate in numerous physiological and pathological processes [5, 6]. Several reports pointed at the proinflammatory role of leptin and anti-inflammatory role of adiponectin in asthma, but the data are currently equivocal [4, 7] It seems that another adipokine, resistin, may be involved in asthma pathogenesis and severity [11]. Our recent studies revealed altered apelin and visfatin levels in childhood atopic asthma [12, 13]
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