Adipokine resistin predicts anti-inflammatory effect of glucocorticoids in asthma

Abstract

BackgroundAdipokines are protein mediators secreted by adipose tissue. Recently, adipokines have also been involved in the regulation of inflammation and allergic responses, and suggested to affect the risk of asthma especially in obese female patients. We assessed if adipokines predict responsiveness to glucocorticoids and if plasma adipokine levels are associated with lung function or inflammatory activity also in non-obese (body mass index (BMI) ≤ 30 kg/m2) women with newly-diagnosed steroid-naïve asthma.MethodsLung function, exhaled NO, plasma levels of adipokines leptin, resistin, adiponectin and adipsin, and inflammatory markers were measured in 35 steroid-naïve female asthmatics and in healthy controls. The measurements were repeated in a subgroup of asthmatics after 8 weeks of treatment with inhaled fluticasone. Adipokine concentrations in plasma were adjusted for BMI.ResultsHigh baseline resistin concentrations were associated with a more pronounced decrease in serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) (r = -0.745, p = 0.013), eosinophil protein X (EPX) (r = -0.733, p = 0.016) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) (r = -0.721, p = 0.019) during fluticasone treatment. In asthmatics, leptin correlated positively with asthma symptom score and negatively with lung function. However, no significant differences in plasma adipokine levels between non-obese asthmatics and healthy controls were found. The effects of resistin were also investigated in human macrophages in cell culture. Interestingly, resistin increased the production of proinflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α and that was inhibited by fluticasone.ConclusionsHigh resistin levels predicted favourable anti-inflammatory effect of inhaled glucocorticoids suggesting that resistin may be a marker of steroid-sensitive phenotype in asthma. High leptin levels were associated with a more severe disease suggesting that the link between leptin and asthma is not restricted to obesity.

The Serum Level of Leptin in Patients with Obesity: Asthmatic and Non-Asthmatic Children

“…It is known well that obesity has complex influences on allergic inflammation and is likely an important modifier of the pathogenesis of airway disease in asthma (17). Conversely, Dixon suggested that although the individuals with obesity and asthma may have signs of Th2-mediated inflammation, adipokine derangements in obesity are associated with Th1 rather than Th2 bias (23).…”

“…It seems that the association between obesity and asthma is complex and multifaceted and is likely explained by many mechanisms. Recently, a distinctive role is suggested for leptin in the prognosis of asthma in patients with obesity and also a link between leptin and asthma is suggested by some studies (3,16,17).…”

Obesity and dementia: Adipokines interact with the brain

“…Several effects of adipokines on the brain increase vulnerability to the development of pathological processes in the brain. Adipose tissue secretes a multitude of compounds other than those discussed here, including for example, visfatin, resistin, apelin and chemerin (Adeghate, 2008; Guo et al, 2009; Lehr et al, 2012; Leivo-Korpela et al, 2011; MacDougald and Burant, 2007), for which even less is known about interactions with the brain. While epidemiologic studies have already shown a higher risk of dementia and brain-associated events in association with overweight and obesity during mid-life and to some extent late-life, the endocrine aspects of adipose tissue in relation to these outcomes are virtually unexplored, and could be useful for refining the adipose tissue exposure.…”

Prediction of adult-onset bronchial asthma in patients with metabolic syndrom in actual practice

“…Высокий уровень лептина ассоциируется с более тяжёлыми формами БА, даже у аст-матиков нормальной конституции [14]. По данным Alwan и соавт., концентрация лепти-на в крови статистически значимо выше у больных БА на фоне избыточной массы тела или ожирения, чем у людей с БА и нормаль-ной массой тела [10].…”