New adipokines

Abstract

Adipose tissue is now widely recognized as "an organ" able to synthesize and secrete hundred factors collectively called adipokines. These secreted molecules exert pleiotropic actions, notably on the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, reproduction, or angiogenesis. Over the past two decades, a considerable amount of work was performed on the two "star" adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, particularly because of their involvement in energy metabolism. The present review is focused on the three most recently discovered adipokines that are clearly emerging as important actors in metabolism: apelin, fibroblast growth factor-21, and neuroregulin-4. Moreover, given a number of clinical and experimental data, these three adipokines represent promising targets in the context of metabolic disorders associated with obesity.

Exercise Training, Neuregulin 4 and Obesity

“…Accumulations of excess fat are strongly related to the development of different metabolic risk factors such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation which result in the development of debilitating cardiovascular diseases (2). However, the precise molecular mechanism of the pathophysiological alterations with obesity are not fully recognized, but substantial research states that abnormal secretion of adipokines and lipid metabolism by adipocyte are involved in the phenomenon (2, 3). In recent years, attitudes have been changed about adipose tissue as being an inert tissue and nowadays it is considered as a vital endocrine tissue that secretes several proteins and adipokines that play an important physiological role in the control of energy homeostasis (2, 3).…”

“…Neuregulin 4 (Nrg4) is one of this adipokines secreted by adipose tissue (primarily brown adipose tissue [BAT]) which especially targets the liver (3). Neuregulin is a member of the epidermal growth factors (EGF) family of receptor kinases, which was originally identified as the product of the transforming gene derived from chemically induced rat neuroblastoms.…”

Clinical significance of serum concentrations of neuregulin-4, in acute coronary syndrome

“…Nrg4 has potent liver antilipogenic activity 6 and its expression is reduced in mouse and human obesity 4 . Nrg4 concentration has negative correlations with indicators of metabolic syndrome 7 .…”

“…Nrg4 concentration has negative correlations with indicators of metabolic syndrome 7 . Nrg4 deficiency 6 and its impaired signaling exacerbated glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and diet-induced hepatic steatosis 4 . Recently, it has been shown that Nrg4 signaling pathway has a role in inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis and prevention of atherosclerosis progression 8,9 .…”

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Obesity-Induced Cancer

“…Adipose tissue is also an important endocrine organ [ 15 ] producing hundreds of cytokines, the adipokines. Secretion profiles of adipokines are affected by the size, metabolic compositions of adipocytes [ 16 ], and their cellular populations [ 17 ]. For example, leptin is an adipokine predominantly produced by adipocytes that inhibits appetite [ 18 ].…”