Abstract
The potential involvement of neuropeptide Q (NPQ) and chemerin (CHEM) in metabolic disorders is yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum concentrations of NPQ and CHEM and to establish their relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors among individuals with metabolic syndrome. A total of 66 patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and 83 healthy volunteers (non-MetS) underwent biochemical, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements. The concentration of NPQ in the MetS group was significantly lower (0.47 (0.34 ; 0.54) vs. 0.52 (0.43 ; 0.60) ng/mL, p = 0.015) than in non-MetS, while there were no differences in CHEM level. In the entire study population, we observed several negative correlations between NPQ concentration and waist-hip ratio (WHR), visceral adipose tissue, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides (TG) along with a positive correlation with high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total muscle mass, and CHEM. Moreover, a negative correlation was observed in the MetS group between NPQ and glycemia. CHEM showed no significant correlations with cardiometabolic risk factors in the study population. In a multiple regression model, the total muscle mass proved to be an independent factor determining NPQ concentration in the population (p < 0.00000001, R2adj = 28.6%). NPQ seems to protect against metabolic disorders correlated with obesity. Thus, it is worth considering NPQ level as a candidate protective biomarker of metabolic syndrome complications.
Highlights
Neuropeptides and adipokines, which are secreted mainly by adipose tissue and other organs, are involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MS)
The medians of concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were slightly higher in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) group (5.03 (4.55 ; 5.87) mmol/L for TC and 3.06 (2.76 ; 3.94) mmol/L for LDL)
Summary
Neuropeptides and adipokines, which are secreted mainly by adipose tissue and other organs, are involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MS). Neuropeptide Q (NPQ), known as a spexin, is a newly discovered peptide hormone. Identified in 2007, NPQ is a product of the Ch12orf gene, consisting of fourteen amino acid residues [1]. Chemerin (CHEM), encoded by the retinoic acid receptor responder 2 gene (RARRES2), known as tazarotene-induced gene 2 (TIG2), is an adipokine secreted by adipose tissue and other cells such as hepatocytes, small intestine, or kidneys [2]. Q and chemerin are widely expressed in endocrine and epithelial tissue, their involvement in human physiological functions is yet to be fully established. Q and chemerin are widely expressed in endocrine and epithelial tissue, their involvement in human physiological functions is yet to be fully established. 4.0/).
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