Abstract

Simple SummaryObesity and its associated complications, such as metabolic syndrome, are an increasing problem in both humans and horses in the developed world. Adipose tissue is a key endocrine organ that communicates with other organs by multiple endocrine substances called adipokines. There is evidence to suggest that adipokines may contribute to the regulation of biological processes, such as metabolism, immunity, and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of one of these adipokines in horses, resistin, and its relationship with insulin dysregulation (ID) and inflammation. Seventy-two horses, included in one of the four following groups, were studied: healthy controls, horses with inflammatory conditions, horses with mild, and horses with severe ID. Plasma resistin concentrations were significantly different between groups, and the highest values were recorded in the inflammatory and severe ID groups. The lack of correlation of resistin with basal insulin concentration and the significant correlation of resistin with the inflammatory marker serum amyloid A suggest that, as is the case in humans, plasma resistin concentrations in horses are predominantly related to inflammatory conditions and not to ID.Obesity and its associated complications, such as metabolic syndrome, are an increasing problem in both humans and horses in the developed world. The expression patterns of resistin differ considerably between species. In rodents, resistin is expressed by adipocytes and is related to obesity and ID. In humans, resistin is predominantly produced by inflammatory cells, and resistin concentrations do not reflect the degree of obesity, although they may predict cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of resistin and its relationship with ID and selected indicators of inflammation in horses. Seventy-two horses, included in one of the four following groups, were studied: healthy controls (C, n = 14), horses with inflammatory conditions (I, n = 21), horses with mild ID (ID1, n = 18), and horses with severe ID (ID2, n = 19). Plasma resistin concentrations were significantly different between groups and the higher values were recorded in the I and ID2 groups (C: 2.38 ± 1.69 ng/mL; I: 6.85 ± 8.38 ng/mL; ID1: 2.41 ± 2.70 ng/mL; ID2: 4.49 ± 3.08 ng/mL). Plasma resistin was not correlated with basal insulin concentrations. A significant (r = 0.336, p = 0.002) correlation was found between resistin and serum amyloid A. Our results show that, as is the case in humans, plasma resistin concentrations in horses are predominantly related to inflammatory conditions and not to ID. Horses with severe ID showed an elevation in resistin that may be secondary to the inflammatory status associated with metabolic syndrome.

Highlights

  • Obesity and its associated complications, such as metabolic syndrome, are an increasing problem in both humans and horses in the developed world [1]

  • Recent evidence suggests that circulating resistin concentrations do not reflect the degree of obesity in humans [15,16,17], but it is related to some inflammatory diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary atherosclerosis, T2 diabetes mellitus, and sepsis [18,19]

  • Our results demonstrate that resistin can be reliably measured in equine plasma and that plasma resistin concentrations increase preferentially in horses with inflammatory conditions as opposed to horses with insulin dysregulation

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Summary

Introduction

Obesity and its associated complications, such as metabolic syndrome, are an increasing problem in both humans and horses in the developed world [1]. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is characterized by increased adiposity, insulin dysregulation (ID), and a predisposition to or history of laminitis [2,3,4]. Adipokines, which are important in the pathophysiology of obesity and metabolic syndrome [6], are secreted by adipocytes and interact with multiple organs, regulating metabolism, immunity, and inflammation [7,8]. Elevated concentrations of resistin in plasma have been linked to metabolic changes and inflammation [12]. The relationship between plasma resistin and insulin resistance is not clearly established in humans [9,11,20]

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