Objective
Cathepsin S is highly expressed in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. Cathepsin S correlates with central obesity and contributes to the formation and progression of atherosclerosis. Here, we sought to evaluate the association of serum cathepsin S with metabolic syndrome (MS) in overweight and obese Chinese adults.
Methods
We evaluated serum cathepsin S levels in a cross‐sectional sample of 781 overweight and obese Chinese adults by ELISA. Glucose, insulin, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, and adipokines were also measured.
Results
Cathepsin S was significantly associated with BMI, waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), systolic blood pressure, C‐reactive protein (CRP), triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol (all P < 0.05). Plasma cathepsin S levels increased significantly (P = 0.045 for trend) with increasing numbers of MS components after adjustment for potential confounders. In the highest cathepsin S quartile, the MS risk was significantly higher (odds ratio 2.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.89‐2.78) than in the lowest quartile after adjustment for age, gender, alcohol consumption, smoking, education, physical activity, self‐reported CVD, and family history of diabetes. This association remained strong (odds ratio 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.72‐2.48) after controlling further for CRP, adiponectin, HOMA‐IR, and BMI.
Conclusions
Elevated circulating cathepsin S concentrations are strongly and independently associated with MS in overweight and obese Chinese adults. Prospective studies are needed to establish the role of cathepsin S in the development of MS.