Serum Leptin Concentrations Research Articles

Development of leptin resistance in sucrose drinking rats is associated with consuming carbohydrate-containing solutions and not calorie-free sweet solution

Rats offered 30% sucrose solution plus chow or a sucrose-free diet develop leptin resistance within 4 weeks. This experiment tested whether leptin resistance was associated with the reward of sweet taste or the pre- or post-absorptive effects of consumption of simple carbohydrate. Male Sprague Dawley rats were offered a sucrose-free diet (NS), a diet containing 67% calories as sucrose (HS) or NS diet plus 30% sucrose (LS), 0.03% saccharin (Sacc) or 20% SolCarb® solution for 38 days. SolCarb® is a maltodextrin powder. Sacc rats initially drank more than LS rats, but intakes were the same after Day 20. SolCarb® and LS rats drank the same number of calories from Day 15 to the end of the experiment. SolCarb® and LS rats ate less dry food than other groups, but total energy intake was greater than that of NS, HS and Sacc groups and over 80% of their energy intake was from carbohydrate. Leptin responsiveness was tested on Days 27 and 32 with each rat acting as its own control. An i.p. injection of 2 mg/kg leptin inhibited food intake of NS, HS and Sacc rats, but had no effect on energy intake of LS or SolCarb® rats or on consumption of Sacc, sucrose or SolCarb® solution. At the end of the experiment all of the rats were insulin sensitive, had the same body composition and serum leptin concentrations. These data indicate that consumption of a calorie containing carbohydrate solution and not sweet taste drives the development of leptin resistance and suggest that there is lower threshold for inhibition of hunger than for inhibition of reward by leptin.

RENAL FUNCTION AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND OBESITY: THE ROLE OF LEPTIN AND ADIPONEKTIN

THE AIM:to evaluate the role of laboratory obesity markers in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the development of cardiovascular complications in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and obesity.PATIENTS AND METHODS. 120 patients with AH stage II-III aged from 45 to 70 years with unachieved target blood pressure values (BP) were divided into four comparable in sex, age, frequency of smoking occurrence, hypertension duration, the level of office systolic AD (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) groups depending on the body mass index (BMI). We performed physical examination, evaluated the renal function, laboratory markers of obesity, analyzed the combined risk of CKD progression and the development of cardiovascular complications.RESULTS.There was a significant increase in the level of proteinuria (PU) and albuminuria (AU) among the patients in groups 3 and 4 compared with group 1 (301.3 [138.1, 691.0] and 305.7 [139.4, 646.9] vs 101.3 [47.9, 116.9] mg/g; 91.0 [65.9, 273.5] and 119.2 [91.0, 291.2 vs 42.2 [41.3; 51.1] mg/g, respectively), as well as a statistically significant decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients of groups 3 and 4 compared with patients in group 1 (63,53,73 and 61,22,71 vs 72 [ 64; 98] mL / min / 1.73 m2). Serum leptin concentration increased from group 1 to group 4 (significant differences were found between groups 2,3,4 in comparison with group 1 and between group 4 in comparison with group 2), while the concentration of adiponectin decreased from group 1 to group 4 (the differences were significant between groups 2,3,4 in comparison with group 1). A statistically significant inverse correlation between GFR and leptin concentration (r = -0.42), a direct correlation between the concentration of adiponectin and GFR (r = 0.36), the inverse relationship between the concentration of adiponectin and PU (r = -0.33), AU (r = -0.24) were found.CONCLUSION.The study showed a statistically significant progressive deterioration in the renal function, as well as an increase in the combined risk of progression of CKD and the development of cardiovascular complications in AH patients with an increase in obesity with comparable values of office SAP and office DAP among the studied groups. The revealed reliable correlation interrelations between the parameters of renal function and obesity markers testify to the important pathogenetic role of leptin and adiponectin in the development and progression of CKD in patients with AH and obesity.

Contribution of obesity as an effect regulator to an association between serum leptin and incident metabolic syndrome

BackgroundWe investigated whether serum leptin can be a predictor for incident cases of MetS in a population-based study. MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study of 1590 adults aged between 40 and 70 years, who did not have MetS in 2005–2008 (at baseline) and 2008–2011 (follow-up). The baseline serum leptin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. ResultsDuring an average of 2.8 years of follow-up, 113 men (17.1%) and 148 women (15.9%) developed MetS. In multivariable adjusted models, the odds ratio of incident MetS when comparing the lowest to the highest quartiles of leptin levels was 3.17 in men and 2.79 in women; nevertheless, the significance disappeared after adjusting for the body mass index (BMI). In subsidiary analyses by BMI, logistic regression analysis showed that subjects with the highest tertile of serum leptin level were 3.04 and 2.12 times more likely to have MetS than those with the lowest tertile in lean subjects (OR 3.04; 95% CI 1.44–6.41; p = .004 in men vs. OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.06–4.25; p = .036 in women, respectively). ConclusionsObesity is an effect regulator, which can predict an association between increased serum leptin level and the incidence of MetS in lean subjects.

Beef, Casein, and Soy Proteins Differentially Affect Lipid Metabolism, Triglycerides Accumulation and Gut Microbiota of High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6J Mice.

Consumption of dietary protein at recommended levels is considered a potential strategy to promote satiety and weight management, but how protein from different dietary sources effect the obesity development, lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota is not known. This study focused on the effects of beef, casein, and soy protein diet on lipid metabolism, triglycerides accumulation, and microbial diversity in colon of C57BL/6J mice, which were given either low-fat diets (LFD, 12% Kcal) or high-fat diets (HFD, 60% Kcal) for 12 weeks. Body and liver weight increased significantly in mice fed a beef protein HFD (HFB), whereas reduced cumulative energy intake was seen in a soy protein HFD (HFS) group. HFB-fed mice showed signs of impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance along with a significant elevation in the concentration of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, IL1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and leptin in serum. HFB also enhanced lipid accumulation in liver with increased activity of genes important for lipogenesis and hepatic cholesterol metabolism. A 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that HFD, regardless of proteins, significantly enhanced the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in colonic microbiota. However, HFB not only reduced the abundance of Akkermansia, compared with LFD independent of proteins, but also decreased the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria such as Anaerotruncus, Butyricicoccus, and Lactobacillus (P < 0.05) compared with HFS and HFC. In conclusion, consumption of HFB does not only affect the gut microbiota composition but also increases the problems related to metabolic syndromes like dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and triglycerides accumulation in liver, which lead to systemic inflammation and its associated comorbidities, for example, impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance.

Protein synthesis signaling in skeletal muscle is refractory to whey protein ingestion during a severe energy deficit evoked by prolonged exercise and caloric restriction.

Exercise and protein ingestion preserve muscle mass during moderate energy deficits. To determine the molecular mechanisms by which exercise and protein ingestion may spare muscle mass during severe energy deficit (5500 kcal/day). Fifteen overweight, but otherwise healthy men, underwent a pre-test (PRE), caloric restriction (3.2 kcals/kg body weight/day) + exercise (45 min one-arm cranking + 8 h walking) for 4 days (CRE), followed by a control diet (CD) for 3 days, with a caloric content similar to pre-intervention while exercise was reduced to less than 10,000 steps per day. During CRE, participants ingested either whey protein (PRO, n = 8) or sucrose (SU, n = 7) (0.8 g/kg body weight/day). Muscle biopsies were obtained from the trained and untrained deltoid, and vastus lateralis. Following CRE and CD, serum concentrations of leptin, insulin, and testosterone were reduced, whereas cortisol and the catabolic index (cortisol/total testosterone) increased. The Akt/mTor/p70S6K pathway and total eIF2α were unchanged, while total 4E-BP1 and Thr37/464E-BP1 were higher. After CRE, plasma BCAA and EAA were elevated, with a greater response in PRO group, and total GSK3β, pSer9GSK3β, pSer51eIF2α, and pSer51eIF2α/total eIF2α were reduced, with a greater response of pSer9GSK3β in the PRO group. The changes in signaling were associated with the changes in leptin, insulin, amino acids, cortisol, cortisol/total testosterone, and lean mass. During severe energy deficit, pSer9GSK3β levels are reduced and human skeletal muscle becomes refractory to the anabolic effects of whey protein ingestion, regardless of contractile activity. These effects are associated with the changes in lean mass and serum insulin, testosterone, and cortisol concentrations.

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and adipocytokines: the HOME Study.

Gestational perfluoroalkyl substances exposure has been associated with decreased birthweight. We determined if gestational perfluoroalkyl substances exposure was associated with fetal metabolic markers using data from the HOME Study, a prospective birth cohort of pregnant women and their children in Cincinnati, Ohio. Maternal serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid were quantified. We measured neonatal adipocytokine (leptin and adiponectin) concentrations in umbilical cord serum, and estimated percent differences with a 2-fold increase in maternal perfluoroalkyl substances concentrations among 230 mother-infant pairs. Median maternal serum PFOA and PFOS concentrations were 5.6 ng/mL and 14 ng/mL, respectively. Leptin was positively correlated with infant birthweight (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant associations between maternal perfluoroalkyl substances and neonatal adipocytokine concentrations; each 2-fold increase in PFOA was associated with a non-significant increase in leptin (5%; 95% CI: -10, 22) and adiponectin (7%; 95% CI: -4, 19). Despite known associations with reduced birthweight, gestational serum perfluoroalkyl substances concentrations were not associated with neonatal adipocytokine concentrations. Further exploration of pathways of perfluoroalkyl substances associated changes in birthweight may help identify biomarkers that could be used to identify at-risk populations and develop interventions.

Serum leptin and leptin resistance correlations with NAFLD in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Leptin/leptin resistance has been suggested to play a role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and therefore we investigated the correlation of leptin/leptin-receptor system with markers of hepatic steatosis (HS) and fibrosis (HF) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In 159 T2D subjects with disease duration of 6.0 (0.0-27.0) years, HS was evaluated by semi-quantitative ultrasonographic scores and by clinical/biochemical variables: Fatty liver index and Hepatic steatosis index. HF was evaluated by NAFLD fibrosis score (NAFLD-FS). Serum leptin and leptin receptor (sObR) concentrations were measured and leptin resistance estimated by Free Leptin Index (FLpI). Both simple and multiple correlations between the HS and HF with the three parameters of interest were examined. Leptin levels and FLpI correlated with diabetes duration (0.25 [95%CI: 0.09-0.39] and 0.24 [95%CI: 0.08-0.39]; P<0.01 for both). 76.1% of T2D patients had HS and 29% had HF. The univariate analysis indicated positive correlations of HS indexes with serum leptin, FLpI, and negative correlations with serum sObR (P<0.0001 for all). In the multiple regression analysis leptin, sObR, FLpI, waist-to-hip ratio, HbA1c, lipids, and HOMA-IR correlated independently with HS (P<0.0001 for all). Although the univariate analyses indicated weak correlations of NAFLD-FS with leptin, sObR, and FLpI, in the multiple regression analyses, only age and waist independently predicted HF. In patients with T2D, HS correlated positively with serum leptin and leptin resistance, and negatively with sObR, along with variables of adiposity and metabolic control, but neither of them made a significant contribution to HF.

PREDICTION OF HYPERPROLIFERATIVE DISEASES OF THE ENDOMETRIUM IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

The article presents an algorithm and a mathematical model for the prediction of hyperproliferative endometrial pathology in postmenopausal women.The purpose of the study is to identify groups of women with the risk of hyperproliferative endometrial pathology in postmenopause on the basis of developing an algorithm and creating a mathematical model for predicting the occurrence of this pathology.Materials and Methods. 125 postmenopausal women, 67 of them hyperproliferative pathology of endometrium and 58 healthy women.Results of the research and their discussion. By step-by-step discriminant analysis, 13 of the 47 factors that most influenced the occurrence of hyperproliferative endometrial diseases in postmenopausal women were identified: the onset of menopause after age 55, the history of infertility, hyperproliferative endometrial diseases, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, polycystic ovaries, the presence of diabetes, obesity, hypertension, liver disease, the value of the index of the WHR index &gt; 0.85 mm, the concentration of estrone in c blood serum &gt;103 pg / ml, serum leptin concentration -&gt;11.09 ng / ml, urine level 25 OH D, / l &lt;75 nmol / l. The sensitivity of this forecasting model for high-risk group was 90.91%, the average - 63.04%, and the overall accuracy of the method for a group with a high or medium probability was 89.83%, and 62.5% for women with a low probability of this pathology .The coincidence of real results with the theoretically expected in the high and medium risk group was recorded at 98.02% (DI 0.39-2.43; VS 1.56).Summary. The developed algorithm and mathematical model for predicting hyperproliferative pathology of the endometrium is highly informative and provides the possibility of forming a risk group for the development of the disease, taking into account the degree of probability of its occurrence

Carnosine Supplementation Improves Serum Resistin Concentrations in Overweight or Obese Otherwise Healthy Adults: A Pilot Randomized Trial.

Adipokines play an important role in the regulation of glucose metabolism. We have previously shown that carnosine supplementation in overweight or obese non-diabetic individuals improves glucose metabolism but does not change adiponectin concentrations. However, its effect on other adipokines has not been investigated. Herein we further determined the effect of carnosine supplementation on serum adipsin, resistin and leptin. Twenty-two overweight or obese otherwise healthy adults were randomly assigned to receive either 2 g of carnosine (n = 13) or identically looking placebo (n = 9) for 12 weeks. Serum adipsin, leptin and resistin were analyzed using a bead-based multiplex assay. Carnosine supplementation decreased serum resistin concentrations compared to placebo (mean change from baseline: −35 ± 83 carnosine vs. 35 ± 55 ng/mL placebo, p = 0.04). There was a trend for a reduction in serum leptin concentrations after carnosine supplementation (−76 ± 165 ng/mL carnosine vs. 20 ± 28 ng/mL placebo, p = 0.06). The changes in leptin and resistin concentrations were inversely related to the change in concentration for urinary carnosine (r = −0.72, p = 0.0002; r = −0.67, p = 0.0009, respectively), carnosine-propanal (r = −0.56, p = 0.005; r = −0.63, p = 0.001, respectively) and carnosine-propanol (r = −0.61, p = 0.002; r = −0.60, p = 0.002, respectively). There were no differences between groups in change in adipsin concentrations. Our findings show carnosine supplementation may normalize some, but not all, of the serum adipokine concentrations involved in glucose metabolism, in overweight and obese individuals. Further clinical trials with larger samples are needed to confirm these results.

Effect of dried corn distillers’ grains with solubles and soybean meal supplements on physiological indicators and reproductive performance of ewes

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) to the nutritional regimens of ewes at different time periods on reproductive traits, serum hormones and serum metabolites. In Experiment 1, 100 ewes were divided into 4 groups (n = 25) according to diet. The four diets were grass hay (H) alone (group H), H with barley (group H + B), H with DDGS for the whole feeding period (27 d) (group H + DDGS) or H and DDGS for 5 d (d 8–12 of oestrus cycle) (group H + DDGS5). Serum progesterone concentrations were affected by oestrus cycle (p < 0.001), but not by dietary treatments. However, feeding H + DDGS caused significant increases in serum insulin, leptin and growth hormone concentrations (p < 0.05). In Experiment 2, 30 ewes were divided into 2 groups (n = 15), receiving DDGS or soybean meal (SBM) during the prepartum period. Diets had no significant effect on weights of dams or lambs at birth; however, the weaning weights of lambs born from ewes of group DDGS were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Moreover, serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen, triglyceride and beta hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) concentrations during the prepartum period were affected by dietary treatments and by time (p < 0.001). During the prepartum period, BHBA concentrations of ewes fed SBM were higher, while BHBA levels decreased during the last weeks of pregnancy regardless of diet. Lamb serum immunoglobulin G concentrations increased from 1 h to 24 h after birth (p < 0.001). Colostrum of ewes fed SBM had higher fat-free dry matter (DM) and protein contents in comparison to colostrum of ewes fed DDGS (p < 0.05). In conclusion, DDGS can be included as protein source in pregnancy rations up to 15% of DM to obtain reproductive performance outcomes equal to or exceeding those obtained with SBM.

Leptin regulates neuropeptides associated with food intake and GnRH secretion

The present review focused on the most important effects of leptin on the hypothalamus and on how leptin regulates neuropeptides associated with food intake and GnRH secretion. This review of the literature suggests that a reduction in leptin serum concentrations results from lower body energy reserves or poor energy availability, leading to hypothalamic secretion of neuropeptides such as NPY/AgRP and QRFP to stimulate food intake. Under these negative metabolic conditions, GnRH secretion is reduced, impairing reproductive functions. In contrast, when metabolic status is inversed by an increase in food availability, energy reserves or both, leptin serum concentrations increase to an action threshold reversing the pattern of secretion: i.e., reducing NPY/AgRP and QRFP and increasing POMC and Kisspeptin, and thereby reducing food intake and stimulating GnRH secretion to promote reproductive function.

Effect of saffron on serum leptin levels in patients with metabolic syndrome, a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial study

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. A decreased level of serum leptin is reported for obese populations. Beneficial effects of saffron on human health, including appetite-regulation, have been reported previously. The aim of this study was to investigating the effect of saffron supplementation on serum leptin levels in patients with metabolic syndrome. Material and method: Patients with metabolic syndrome were randomly divided into two groups; a case group, receiving saffron and a control group, receiving placebo. Concentration of serum leptin was measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of the start of study. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Results: There was a borderline (p=0.05) significant difference in serum leptin before and after treatment with saffron, but not in the placebo group. There was a significant difference in serum leptin concentrations between the groups (p=0.001). Conclusion: Saffron supplementation has no significant effect on serum leptin levels in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Association of serum concentrations of irisin and the adipokines adiponectin and leptin with epicardial fat in cardiovascular surgery patients

Epicardial fat located adjacent to the heart and coronary arteries is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Irisin is a myokine produced by skeletal muscle after physical exercise, and originally described as a molecule able to promote the browning of white adipose tissue and energy expenditure. In order to decrease cardiovascular risk, it has been proposed as a promising therapeutic target in obesity and type 2 diabetes. We investigated the relationships between serum concentrations of irisin and the adipokines adiponectin and leptin and body fat including epicardial fat in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. We obtained serum samples from 93 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery (age 69.6 (SD 12.8) years, BMI 24.1 ± 4.8 kg/m2). Computed tomography (CT) and echocardiographic data were obtained from the routine preoperative examination. Subcutaneous fat area (SFA, cm2) and visceral fat area (VFA, cm2) near the umbilicus were automatically measured using the standard fat attenuation range. Epicardial fat area (EFA, cm2) was measured at the position where the heart became a long axis image with respect to the apex of the heart in the coronal section image. Total body fat mass, body fat percentage, and skeletal muscle volume (SMV) were estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Serum irisin concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and compared with adiponectin and leptin concentrations. The data were also compared with the clinical biochemical data. EFA was strongly correlated with BMI (P = 0.0001), non-HDL-C (P = 0.029), TG (P = 0.004), body fat mass (P = 0.0001), and body fat percentage (P = 0.0001). Serum leptin concentration showed a significant positive correlation with BMI (P = 0.0001) and TG (P = 0.001). Adiponectin, but not irisin, showed a significant negative correlation with BMI (P = 0.006) and TG (P = 0.001). Serum leptin level had a significant positive correlation with EFA, VFA, and SFA. In contrast, the serum adiponectin level was significantly negatively correlated with EFA, VFA, and SFA. The serum irisin level was also negatively correlated with EFA (r = -0.249, P = 0.015), and SFA (r = -0.223, P = 0.039), and tended to correlate with VFA (r = -0.198, P = 0.067). The serum level of adiponectin was negatively correlated with that of leptin (r = -0.296, P = 0.012), but there were no significant correlations between irisin and either adiponectin or leptin. Multivariate linear regression demonstrated that EFA showed a positive association with serum leptin level (β = 0.438, P = 0.0001) and a negative correlation with serum irisin level (β = -0.204, P = 0.038) and serum adiponectin level (β = -0.260, P = 0.015) after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI. The present study provided the first evidence of associations of the serum irisin and adipokines (adiponectin and leptin) concentrations with epicardial fat in cardiovascular surgery patients. Irisin may play a role in preventing excess adiposity including epicardial fat, and consequently cardiovascular risk in patients.

What is the role of adipokines in myasthenia gravis?

ObjectiveMyasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease with autoimmune etiology. The main pathomechanism is related to the production of antibodies against nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The present study is aimed to compare the serum level of adipokines in patients with MG with that in controls, as well as to study the relation of these levels with disease severity.Patients and methodsFifty patients with MG and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in our study. Serum concentrations of select adipokines, namely adiponectin, leptin, omentin, visfatin, and resistin were measured.ResultsThe results showed a significant increase in serum concentrations of adiponectin and resistin in the patients with MG compared with the controls.ConclusionFurther studies are warranted to assess changes in adipokine concentration levels in patients with MG.

Body fat distribution and genetic variants are associated with sex differences in serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations

Aim: To assess to what extent sex differences in adiponectin and leptin concentrations are explained by sex differences in body fat distribution.

Sex differences in body fat distribution are related to sex differences in serum leptin and adiponectin

It is debated whether sex differences in adiponectin and leptin are due to sex differences in body fat distribution. In this cross-sectional analysis of the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity study, associations of measures of body fat and sex with serum adiponectin and leptin concentrations were examined using linear regression analysis (n = 6494, VAT: n = 2516). Sex differences were additionally adjusted for the measure of body fat that was most strongly associated with adiponectin or leptin concentrations. Median adiponectin concentrations in women and men were 10.5 mg/L (IQR, interquartile range: 7.7–13.9) and 6.1 mg/L (IQR: 4.5–8.2), mean difference 4.6 mg/L (95% CI: 4.3, 4.9). Median leptin concentrations in women and men were 19.2 μg/L (IQR: 11.5–30.0) and 7.1 μg/L (IQR: 4.6–11.1), mean difference 15.1 μg/L (95% CI: 14.4, 15.8). VAT was most strongly associated with adiponectin, total body fat percentage was most strongly associated with leptin. After adjustment for VAT, women had 3.8 mg/L (95% CI: 3.3, 4.3) higher adiponectin than men. After adjustment for total body fat percentage, leptin concentrations in women were 0.4 μg/L lower than in men (95% CI: −1.2, 2.0). One genetic variant (rs4731420) was associated with extreme leptin concentrations (>100 μg/L) in women: odds ratio 2.8 (95% CI: 1.7, 4.6). Total body fat percentage was strongly associated with leptin concentrations. Higher leptin concentrations in women than in men were completely explained by differences in total body fat percentage. Visceral fat was associated with adiponectin concentrations, and did not completely explain higher adiponectin concentrations in women than in men.

Interplay of adipokines in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension: A comparative cross-sectional in Ghana

BackgroundThe renin-angiotensin-system (RAS), endothelial dysfunction and sympathetic nervous system are mechanistic risk factors of hypertension. The study sought to elucidate the interplay of adipokines in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. MethodologyThis comparative cross-sectional study recruited 200 confirmed hypertensive patients from the KATH and 50 age-matched normotensives. Participants’ blood pressures, anthropometric and socio-demographic information were voluntarily obtained. Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin and resistin of the participants were quantified using the ELISA. Renal function, lipid profile and glycemic status of all subjects were also analyzed. ResultsHypertensive patients showed a significantly higher anthropometric indices of adiposity compared to normotensives, CI (p < 0.0001), BAI (p < 0.0001) and AVI (p = 0.002). Adiponectin levels (p < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the hypertensive relative to the normotensives. Furthermore, significantly higher concentrations of serum leptin (p = 0.016) and the leptin-adiponectin ratio (p = 0.001) were observed among the hypertensive compared to the normotensives. The study further observed a direct association between serum leptin and weight (r = 0.111, p = 0.022), BMI (r = 0.129, p = 0.009) and WHtR (r = 0.098, p = 0.045) but inverse relationship with height (r = −0.134, p = 0.006) among the hypertensive. Serum leptin has a significant negative correlation with HDL-C among the hypertensive (r = −0.174, p = 0.013). The fully aOR for hypertension as predicted by resistin and adiponectin were 1.12 (95% Cl, 1.02–1.25); p = 0.019) and 0.93 (95% Cl, 0.91–0.95); p = 0.0001) respectively. ConclusionWe found that elevations in serum levels of leptin and resistin, and low levels of adiponectin may play a role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Therefore, adipokines may offer themselves as potential indices for early and accurate detection of high blood pressure. At the same time our present results also confirm the conclusions with respect to correlation of leptin and obesity. Further longitudinal studies in a larger population are warranted to investigate the physiological and pathological functions of adipokines in hypertension.

Leptin – A new marker for development of post-transplant diabetes mellitus?

IntroductionObese patients have increased leptin production and selective resistance to its central anti-adipogenic effects, yet its pro-inflammatory immunostimulating effects persist. Material and methodsIn a group of 70 patients who underwent primary kidney transplantation (KT) we examined adiponectin and leptin levels at the time of KT and 6 months post-transplantation. Patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2 at the time of KT were excluded from the study. ResultsWe found that leptin levels significantly increased during the post-transplant period (P = 0.0065). Overall, leptin levels were positively correlated with the level of triacylglycerols, post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) development and acute rejection (AR). We discovered that, in particular, high leptin levels were associated with AR [OR 2.1273; 95% CI 1.0130–4.4671 (P = 0.0461)] and PTDM development [OR 7.200; 95% CI 1.0310–50.2836 (P = 0.0465)], whereas, low adiponectin levels represent a risk factor for the development of insulin resistance [HR 38.6135; 95% CI 13.3844–67.7699 (P < 0.0001)] and obesity [HR 3.0821; 95% CI 0.8700–10.9192 (P = 0.0053)]. ConclusionWe found that a high serum concentration of leptin before KT is associated with both PTDM development and AR and merits further investigation in relation to KT.

Circulating regulatory T cells (Treg), leptin and induction of proinflammatory activity in obese Labrador Retriever dogs

Over-nutrition and obesity have been associated with impaired immunity and low-grade inflammation in humans and mouse models. In this context, a causal role for unbalanced T regulatory cell (Treg)-dependent mechanisms has been largely suggested.Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in dogs. However, it is not defined whether canine obesity may influence circulating Treg as well as if their number variation might be associated with the occurrence of systemic inflammation.The present study investigated the immune profile of healthy adult obese dogs belonging to the Labrador Retriever breed, in comparison with the normal weight counterpart. Indeed, obesity has been described as particularly evident in this dogs. With this purpose, 26 healthy dogs were enrolled and divided into two groups based on body condition score (BCS): controls (CTR: BCS 4–5) and obeses (OB: BCS ≥ 7).Our data indicate that adult obese Labrador Retrievers are characterised by the inverse correlation between leptin serum concentration and circulating Treg (CD4+CD25highFoxp3+) levels. In addition, an increased number of cytotoxic T cell effectors (CD3+CD8+) and a higher IFN-γ production by cytotoxic T lymphocytes were observed in OB group. These results may provide new insights into the immunological dysregulation frequently associated to obesity in humans and still undefined in dogs.

Serum IL-1 Receptor Antagonist Concentrations Associate With Unfavorable Metabolic Features in 12-Year-Old Children.

ContextElevated IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) concentrations are associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adults.ObjectiveTo determine if serum IL-1Ra and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are associated with markers of reduced insulin sensitivity (IS) and serum lipids in 12-year-old children.Design and ParticipantsOf 191 children (n = 109 girls), 78 were categorized as having had birth weight and length appropriate for gestational age (AGA), 69 were small for gestational age, and 44 were AGA and from preeclamptic pregnancies. Serum markers of low-grade inflammation, IS, and lipids were measured. Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) was calculated.ResultsMean serum IL-1Ra levels did not differ between the sexes or among the gestational categories. Children in the highest IL-1Ra tertile had lower QUICKI, IGF-binding protein-1, SHBG, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values; and higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference to height ratio (WHtR), and serum insulin, hs-CRP, leptin, and triglyceride concentrations than those in the lowest IL-1Ra tertile. Logistic regression analysis showed higher serum hs-CRP and leptin levels, and WHtR were associated with high serum IL-1Ra levels. IL-1Ra concentration could be used to discriminate the children with lowest IS (area under the curve, 0.68; P < 0.001); hs-CRP level could not.ConclusionChildren with the highest IL-1Ra levels had lower IS, higher hs-CRP levels and BMI, and a less favorable lipid profile than those with the lowest IL-1Ra levels, suggesting that high IL-1Ra concentrations may be associated with increased CVD risk in 12-year-old children.