The Role of Urotensin-II in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Pediatric Population

Abstract

Background: Urotensin-II (U-II) is a short cyclic peptide that is widely recognized as one of the most potent vasoconstrictors. U-II plays a role in the pathophysiology of MS, participating in the development of essential hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and a proinflammatory state. Methods: This study comprised 52 obese children and adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) z score > 2, aged 10 to 18 years. Serum levels of U-II were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay along with other standard biochemical parameters. Results: Elevated serum levels of U-II were recorded in the group of obese subjects with MS when compared with the group of obese subjects without MS (4.99 (8.97–3.16) vs. 4.17 (5.17–2.03) ng/mL, median and IQR, p = 0.026). Furthermore, a subgroup of study subjects with high blood pressure had significantly higher U-II levels in comparison with the normotensive subgroup (4.98 (7.19–3.22) vs. 3.32 (5.06–1.97) ng/mL, p = 0.027), while the subgroup with a positive family history of high blood pressure had significantly higher U-II levels when compared with subjects who had a negative family history of elevated blood pressure (5.06 (6.83–4.45) vs. 3.32 (6.13–2.21) ng/mL, p = 0.039). Conclusions: To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study on the levels of U-II in obese children and adolescents, including a possible link to MS.

Determination of Urotensin Ii Levels Before and After Lsg in Patients With Obesity

“…Additionally, there were a statistically signi cant drop in serum UII levels between the PREOP and POSTOP groups. HbA1c levels were discovered to be high in a study done on kids with obesity [25]. In our study, the POSTOP group's HbA1c levels also dropped and eventually reached levels comparable to those of the C group.…”

“…Compared to wild-type mice, obese mice treated with the UII receptor antagonist SB657510 experienced less weight gain and signi cant reductions in blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and glucose levels [28]. According to the results of a study done on obese kids, those who had a family history of high blood pressure had serum UII levels that were signi cantly higher than those in the control group [25]. In our study, weight loss was accompanied by a parallel decline in blood pressure and serum UII levels.…”

“…It is thought that UII may contribute to abdominal obesity, which is thought to be a critical factor in the development of metabolic syndrome if similar effects on lipid metabolism and feeding behavior are seen in humans. Plasma UII levels and body weight have been shown to correlate positively in studies done in the Hong Kong Chinese population [24][25][26][27].…”

Urotensin II system in chronic kidney disease

“…Circulating and urinary concentrations of UII are elevated in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome and are associated with retinopathy, atherosclerosis, and nephropathy ( Gruson et al, 2010 ; Suguro et al, 2008 ; Totsune et al, 2003 , 2004 ). The serum levels of UII were increased in obese children and adolescents with metabolic syndrome and hypertension ( Simunovic et al, 2022 ). Tian and colleagues showed that UII mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in the glomeruli and distal and collecting tubes epithelial cells of diabetic rats ( Tian et al, 2008b ).…”

Mechanisms and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents

“…Moreover, the concomitant presence of proinflammatory signals activated in obesity, vasoconstriction induced by FFAs and decreased insulin-mediated vasodilation may also explain hypertension [ 17 , 35 ]. The underlying mechanism has been proposed to be mediated by urotensin-II (U-II), a potent vasoconstrictor, whose serum levels are positively associated with hypertension, IR, inflammation and with the clinical outcome of T2D and cardiovascular disease [ 40 – 42 ].…”