Changes in plasma levels of fat-derived hormones adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 65; no. 9; pp. 1198 - 1201
• Main Authors: Otero, M, Lago, R, Gomez, R, Lago, F, Dieguez, C, Gómez-Reino, J J, Gualillo, O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01-09-2006; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adiponectin - blood; Adult; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood; Biological and medical sciences; BMI; body mass index; C reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; CRP; Cytokines - blood; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Extended Report; Female; Hormones; Humans; Inflammatory joint diseases; Insulin resistance; Leptin - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mortality; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; PBEP; Peptide Hormones - blood; Plasma; pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor; Resistin - blood; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rodents; Studies; TNF; tumour necrosis factor; WAT; white adipose tissue; Human; Hormone; Immunopathology; Chronic; Rheumatoid arthritis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rheumatology; Autoimmune disease; Inflammatory joint disease; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2005.046540

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory condition characterised by polyarthritis and severe change in body mass and neuroendocrine environment. Objectives: To investigate plasma levels of adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin, visfatin and resistin) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to compare them with levels in healthy controls. Methods: Adiponectin, resistin, visfatin and leptin concentrations were measured in 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 18 healthy controls by using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed considerably higher plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin and visfatin than healthy controls. No marked difference was observed in resistin levels between patients and controls. Conclusion: A marked increase in plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin and visfatin was noted in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas resistin levels were similar to those observed in healthy controls. Coordinated roles for adiponectin, leptin and visfatin are suggested in the modulation of the inflammatory environment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas the lack of modulation in resistin levels is predictive of an irrelevant role for this peptide, suggesting that resistin level is probably not one of the main signals associated with the pathogenesis of this disease.