Differential circulating concentrations of adipokines, glucagon and adropin in a clinical population of lean, overweight and diabetic cats

Abstract

BackgroundDyslipidemia, dysregulated adipokine secretion and alteration in glucagon and adropin concentrations are important obesity-related factors in the pathophysiology of human Type 2 diabetes; however, their roles in the pathophysiology of feline diabetes mellitus are relatively unknown. Here, we determined the concentrations of circulating leptin, adiponectin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, glucagon, adropin, triglycerides, and cholesterol, in non-diabetic lean and overweight cats and newly diagnosed diabetic cats. Client-owned cats were recruited and assigned into 3 study groups: lean, overweight and diabetic. Fasting blood samples were analyzed in lean, overweight and diabetic cats at baseline and 4 weeks after consumption of high protein/low carbohydrate standardized diet.ResultsSerum concentrations of triglycerides were greater in diabetics at baseline and were increased in both diabetic and overweight cats at 4 weeks. Plasma leptin concentrations were greater in diabetic and overweight at baseline and 4 weeks, whereas adiponectin was lower in diabetics compared to lean and overweight cats at baseline and 4 weeks. Diabetics had greater baseline plasma glucagon concentrations compared to lean, lower adropin than overweight at 4 weeks, and lower IL-12 concentrations at 4 weeks than baseline.ConclusionsOur results suggest that feline obesity and diabetes mellitus are characterized by hypertriglyceridemia and hyperleptinemia; however, diabetic cats have significantly lower adiponectin and adropin compared to overweight cats. Thus, despite having similar body condition, overweight and diabetic cats have differential circulating concentrations of adiponectin and adropin.

Associations of body condition score with health conditions related to overweight and obesity in cats

“…, Zapata et al . ). Several studies found positive associations between diabetes mellitus and increased bodyweight or BCS (Scarlett & Donoghue , Lund et al .…”

“…Adiponectin increases wholebody insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in muscle and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis. Adi ponectin has a negative dose-response association with type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans (Li et al 2009) and cats (Ishioka et al 2009, Tvarijonaviciute et al 2012, Zapata et al 2017. Sev eral studies found positive associations between diabetes mellitus and increased bodyweight or BCS (Scarlett & Donoghue 1998, Lund et al 2005, Prahl et al 2007, O'Neill et al 2016, Öhlund et al 2018.…”

“…Although adipokinerelated research is still in its infancy in cats, the concentrations of some adi pokines, such as adiponectin and leptin, have been shown to correlate with fat mass (Hoenig et al 2007, Hoenig 2012. Moreover, significant associations have been reported for some adipokines with type 2 diabetes mellitus (Ishioka et al 2009, Tvarijonaviciute et al 2012, Zapata et al 2017) and hepatic lipidosis (MazakiTovi et al 2013).…”

Feline obesity and diabetes: a One Health perspective.

“…Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ. Feline obesity is associated with increased adipocyte size and altered adipokine gene expression, with similar patterns to human obesity, with higher leptin and lower adiponectin levels in the circulation, and an increase in expression pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines [4,44,45]. In healthy cats, nearly 40% of the variance in final body weight after 8 weeks of ad libitum feeding is explained by initial body weight, energy requirements for maintenance and fasting leptin [46].…”

Adiponectin is valuable in the diagnosis of acute heart failure with renal insufficiency

“…The adipocyte-secreted protein adiponectin (ADPN) is a 247 amino acid peptide, predominantly secreted by adipocytes (18,19). Plasma ADPN is typically high in cats, which are overweight and functions by regulating the level of leptin (20). ADPN is considered as a useful biomarker in metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, high-fat-associated disease and dementia (21)(22)(23).…”