Concentrations of leptin, adiponectin and other metabolic parameters in non-obese children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Alterations of several cardiometabolic risk factors, in particular, leptin concentrations and leptin resistance are present in children with DS. The presence of hyperleptinemia without hyperinsulinemia suggests a probable inherent genetic basis for increased leptin resistance in patients with DS. There is a need for larger studies to further understand increased leptin resistance in DS that may contribute to increased CVD related morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Down Syndrome, Obesity, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Cancer: A Brief Review and Hypothesis

“…In a similar study using unaffected, not related controls, leptin levels in DS were increased for percent body fat; leptin was higher in girls than in boys [ 23 ]. Higher leptin levels and increased leptin resistance was also seen in a 2017 cross-sectional case-control study of children with DS [ 24 ]. Leptin levels were higher in children than in adult and older DS subjects [ 25 ].…”

“…DS and Adiponectin: In contrast to leptin, whose levels decline with age, serum adiponectin levels were increased in older DS patients compared to children and adults with DS [ 25 ]. Fasting adiponectin levels were lower in DS children than in controls, but this did not reach statistical significance [ 24 ]. The varying levels of leptin and adiponectin with age may be important in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer pathogenesis.…”

“…In transgenic mice, leptin treatment reduced beta amyloid accumulation in the brain, decreased toxicity in neuronal cells and, in human neuronal cells, decreased levels of phosphorylated tau [ 29 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Leptin levels are elevated in children with DS, but levels decrease with age [ 24 , 25 ], supporting the possibility that any protective action of leptin against Alzheimer’s disease declines over time.…”

“…Leptin and adiponectin can promote or inhibit apoptosis depending on the system studied. Leptin levels are high early in DS, but decline later [ 24 , 25 ]. High levels of leptin and glucose induced pancreatic beta-cell apoptosis through activation of the JNK pathway [ 69 ].…”

“…Thus, leptin and adiponectin can have either pro and anti-apoptotic activity depending on the system studied; in cancer, however, leptin has significant anti-apoptotic and adiponectin has pro-apoptotic actions. In Alzheimer’s disease, adiponectin could be promoting through loss of neurons, especially as adiponectin increases with age in DS [ 24 , 25 ]. In DS, lower levels of adiponectin in children might increase leukemia risk because adipontin inhibited myeloid cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in myelomonocytic leukemia cells [ 61 , 62 ].…”