Abstract
Background: Urotensin-II (U-II) is a short cyclic peptide that is widely recognized as one of the most potent vasoconstrictors. U-II plays a role in the pathophysiology of MS, participating in the development of essential hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and a proinflammatory state. Methods: This study comprised 52 obese children and adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) z score > 2, aged 10 to 18 years. Serum levels of U-II were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay along with other standard biochemical parameters. Results: Elevated serum levels of U-II were recorded in the group of obese subjects with MS when compared with the group of obese subjects without MS (4.99 (8.97–3.16) vs. 4.17 (5.17–2.03) ng/mL, median and IQR, p = 0.026). Furthermore, a subgroup of study subjects with high blood pressure had significantly higher U-II levels in comparison with the normotensive subgroup (4.98 (7.19–3.22) vs. 3.32 (5.06–1.97) ng/mL, p = 0.027), while the subgroup with a positive family history of high blood pressure had significantly higher U-II levels when compared with subjects who had a negative family history of elevated blood pressure (5.06 (6.83–4.45) vs. 3.32 (6.13–2.21) ng/mL, p = 0.039). Conclusions: To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study on the levels of U-II in obese children and adolescents, including a possible link to MS.
Highlights
Pediatric obesity has become one of the most important public health concerns in countries across the world [1,2,3,4]
Elevated serum levels of U‐II were recorded in the group of obese subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) when compared with the group of obese subjects without MS (4.99 (8.97–3.16) vs. 4.17 (5.17–2.03) ng/mL, median and IQR, p = 0.026)
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study on the levels of U‐II in obese children and adolescents, including a possible link to MS
Summary
Pediatric obesity has become one of the most important public health concerns in countries across the world [1,2,3,4]. Obesity in children often persists into adulthood and is significantly linked to type 2 diabetes with a high risk for cardiovascular disease later in life [7,8,9]. Insulin re‐ sistance plays a central role in the pathophysiology underlying the metabolic syndrome (MS), which is defined as a collection of risk factors including hypertension, impaired glu‐ cose metabolism, elevated triglycerides, and low high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) choles‐ terol as well as abdominal obesity [11,12,13,14,15]. Results: Elevated serum levels of U‐II were recorded in the group of obese subjects with MS when compared with the group of obese subjects without MS (4.99 (8.97–3.16) vs 4.17 (5.17–2.03) ng/mL, median and IQR, p = 0.026). Conclusions: To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study on the levels of U‐II in obese children and adolescents, including a possible link to MS
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