THU074 Plasma Spexin In Metabolic Syndrome Related To Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Disclosure: E. Vergani: None. A. Oliva: None. C. Bruno: None. D. Currò: None. A. Mancini: None. Adult growth hormone deficiency (aGHD) shares with metabolic syndrome some clinical features such as higher fat mass percentage, increased total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, reduced HDL, and higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular complications. Spexin, also known as neuropeptide Q, is a 14-aminoacid polypeptide, related to the galanin-kisspeptin family, produced in several human tissues. It is also secreted along with insulin by pancreatic beta cells; via paracrine effects they blunted reciprocal secretion. In type 2 diabetes mellitus spexin is closely correlated to fasting and post prandial glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and HOMA index. Moreover, spexin infusion seems to ameliorate ALT and AST levels in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Given its controversial role in condition of metabolic impairment, we aimed to evaluate spexin plasmatic levels in aGHD. Thirty-eight subjects were included in the study, 18 aGHD patients (7 females and 11 males) and 20 healthy controls (12 females and 8 males). aGHD was diagnosed by a GHRH plus arginine test. Etiologies of GHD were as follows: 7 empty sellas, 5 post-surgical hypopituitarism, and 6 idiopathic with negative MRI scans. GHRH plus arginine stimulation tests were repeated twice in idiopathic aGHD to confirm the diagnosis. They were evaluated for glucose and insulin, HOMA and QUICKI index, total/LDL/HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid and IGF-1. Spexin was measured by ELISA, according to manufacturers’ protocols. Fat mass percentage was evaluated by DXA. Mean±SEM age of aGHD group was 59.7±2.7 years, while BMI was 30.2±2.2 kg/m2; control group aged 47.1±2.5 years, while BMI was 24.5±0.9 kg/m2. As expected, aGHD patients showed higher HOMA index, triglycerides and lower HDL than controls. Furthermore mean±SEM fat mass percentage was significantly higher in aGHD than controls (44.41±3.15 vs 32.2±3.64). Spexin levels were similar in the two groups (aGHD 1.17±0.21 vs controls 1.25±0.10 ng/ml). significant correlations were found in both populations. These results, although preliminary, seem to exclude a possible role of spexin in aGHD; however, spexin could represent another possible element of differentiation between aGHD and metabolic syndrome. Such controversial topic requires further evaluations. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023