Plasma Alarin Level and Its Influencing Factors in Obese Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Androgenetic Alopecia and Metabolic Syndrome: Is Alarin a Missing Link?

BACKGROUND

The field of research into the probable link between androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is rapidly expanding. The exact underlying pathogenesis yet to be identified. Alarin, a galanin neuropeptide, found to be elevated in patients with metabolic syndrome and may represent a potential link between AGA and MetS.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of alarin in patients with AGA and investigate its possible correlation, if any, with criteria of MetS in those patients.

METHODS

The study included 50 male patients with AGA and 30 healthy controls. Weight, height, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) were all measured. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings were recorded. Serum level of lipids, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and alarin were also assessed.

RESULTS

Anthropometric measures, serum lipids, FBG, and serum alarin were much higher in patients with AGA compared to controls (p<0.05). Forty-one patients with AGA (82%) met the criteria for diagnosis of MetS. Serum level of alarin was significantly higher in those patients and correlated positively with severity and duration of AGA.

CONCLUSION

Serum level of alarin might represent a potential link between AGA and MetS, opening the door for better understanding of the pathogenesis of both conditions and the possible association between them.

Tip 2 diyabetli hastalarda angiopoietin benzeri protein 8 (ANGPTL8) ve Alarin düzeylerinin karşılaştırmalı bir değerlendirmesi

Purpose: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most serious public health problems that affect millions of people worldwide. There are 537 million adults diagnosed with diabetes worldwide and approximately 90% of these adults have type 2 diabetes. The study examined angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) and Alarin levels of the patients diagnosed with T2DM in comparison with each other and with the healthy control group. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with a diabetes group consisting of 67 patients who were newly diagnosed with T2DM and who did not use any medication, and the control group consisting of 55 healthy people. ANGPTL8 and Alarin levels were measured using the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method. Results: We found a significant increase in alarin and ANGPTL8 levels in the diabetic group compared to the control group. Furthermore, a positive correlation between Alarin levels and ANGPTL8, triglyceride, and insulin levels was found in the patient group. In addition, while both adipokines were higher in males in the patient group, both adipokines levels were lower in males than females in the control group, and there was a significant difference in ANGPTL8 levels. Conclusion: High levels of ANGPTL8 and Alarin may facilitate the development of diabetes through the insulin resistance pathway. If this mechanism is more clearly elucidated, there may be a significant improvement in diabetic treatment projection.

The evolving roles of alarin in physiological and disease conditions, and its future potential clinical implications

Alarin is a member of the galanin family of neuropeptides that is widely expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues in humans and rodents. It was initially isolated fifteen years ago in ganglionic cells of human neuroblastoma. Subsequently, it was demonstrated to be broadly distributed in the blood vessels, skin, eyes, peripheral and central nervous systems, thymus, gastrointestinal tract, and endocrine organs of different species. Alarin is a 25 amino acid neuropeptide derived from the alternative splicing of the GALP gene, missing exon 3. It is found to be involved in several physiological functions that include feeding behavior, energy homeostasis, glucose homeostasis, body temperature, and reproduction. It has also vasoactive, anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and antimicrobial activities. However, the physiological effects of alarin have not been fully elucidated and the receptors that mediate these effects are not currently known. Unearthing the novel biological effects of alarin and its unidentified receptors will therefore be a task in future biomedical research. In addition, alarin is involved in various disease conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, cardiac fibrosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and depression. Thus, alarin may serve as a promising tool for future pharmacological treatment and diagnosis. But further research is awaited to confirm whether alarin has a protective or pathological role in these diseases. This article provides a comprehensive review on the evolving implications of alarin in a variety of physiological and disease conditions, and its future perspectives.

Serum Tenascin-C and Alarin Levels Are Associated with Cardiovascular Diseases in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Tenascin-C (TNC), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, is elevated in inflammatory and cardiovascular pathologies, whereas alarin, a novel orexigenic peptide, participates in insulin resistance and glycometabolism. The roles of these molecules in individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), clinical conditions associating with metabolic disorders, and chronic inflammation, remain controversial. Our study aimed at determining the potential role of TNC and alarin in CVD adult patients with T2DM.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Basic and clinical information for 250 patients with T2DM were analyzed. Based on their cardiovascular disease status, participants were assigned into the CVD and non-CVD groups. Serum TNC and alarin levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Serum TNC and alarin concentrations in the CVD group were significantly higher than those of the non-CVD group. Moreover, serum TNC levels were positively correlated with age, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio; however, they were negatively correlated with TC, LDL-C, and eGFR levels. Alarin levels were positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference. In logistic regression models, TNC and alarin were also established to be independent determinants for CVD in T2DM patients and their increases were associated with CVD severity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under curve (AUC) values for TNC and alarin were 0.68 and 0.67, respectively. TNC and alarin were good predictors of CVD occurrence. When the cutoff value for TNC was 134.05 pg/mL, its sensitivity was 69.47% while its specificity was 61.29%. When the cutoff value for alarin was 142.69 pg/mL, sensitivity and specificity were 38.95% and 90.97%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Elevated TNC and alarin levels are independently associated with the occurrence and severity of CVD in T2DM individuals. Therefore, these two biomarkers are potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators for CVD in diabetics.