Significance of resistin expression in acute pancreatitis

Resistin in endocrine pancreas of sheep: Presence and expression related to different diets

Resistin (RETN), a recently discovered adipokine, is a cysteine-rich and secretory protein produced by adipocytes. RETN has been detected in several tissues, including human and laboratory animals' pancreas, wherein impairs glucose tolerance and insulin (INS) action and causes INS resistance. This study aims to evaluate the presence and expression of RETN in the pancreas of 15 adult female sheep reared on Apennine pastures, which show a decrease in their nutritional value due to the drought stress linked to the increasing summer aridity. The sheep were divided into 3 groups according to the diet they were subjected to: maximum pasture flowering (MxF) group, maximum pasture dryness (MxD) group, and experimental (Exp) group which received a feed supplementation in addition to the MxD group feeding. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of the pancreas to detect the RETN presence and to evaluate the co-localization of RETN with both glucagon (GCG)- and INS-producing cells. In addition, the expression of the three molecules was evaluated also in relation to different diets. RETN was observed only in the endocrine pancreas, showing a wide distribution throughout the pancreatic islets with few negative cells and the RETN producing cells colocalized with both α cells and ß cells. No differences in distribution and immunostaining intensity of RETN, GCG and INS were observed among the three groups. Quantitative PCR showed the expression of RETN, GCG and INS in all tested samples. No significant differences were observed for RETN and GCG among all three groups of sheep. Instead, a high statistically significant expression of INS was detected in the MxF group with respect to the Exp and MxD groups. These results highlight the localization of RETN in GCG- and INS-secreting cells involved in glucose homeostasis suggesting a modulatory role for RETN. Furthermore, the RETN expression is not influenced by food supplementation and thus is not affected by diet.

Eugenol Reduced ΜPO, CD45 and HMGB1 Expression and Attenuated the Expression of Leukocyte Infiltration Markers in the Intestinal Tissue in Biliopancreatic Duct Ligation-Induced Pancreatitis in Rats

Background and Objectives: Inflammation and dysregulation in the intestinal barrier function in acute pancreatitis (AP) trigger pancreatic lesions, systemic inflammatory response, and multiple organ dysfunction. Eugenol, as the main component of clove (Syzygium aromaticum), is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We studied the potentially beneficial effect of eugenol in a rodent model of biliopancreatic duct ligation-induced AP. Materials and Methods: Rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham, AP, and AP + eugenol (15 mg/kg/day). Serum TNFα, IL-6, IL-18, and resistin levels, as well as IL-6, TNFα, MPO, HMGB1, and CD45 tissue expression, were determined at various timepoints after the induction of AP. Results: Eugenol attenuated hyperemia and inflammatory cell infiltration in the intestinal mucosal, submucosal, and muscular layers. IL-6 and resistin serum levels were significantly reduced in the AP + eugenol group, while serum TNFα and IL-18 levels remained unaffected overall. TNFα pancreatic and intestinal expression was attenuated by eugenol at 72 h, while IL-6 expression was affected only in the pancreas. MPO, CD45, and HMGB1 intestinal expression was significantly reduced in eugenol-treated rats. Conclusions: Eugenol managed to attenuate the inflammatory response in the intestine in duct ligation-induced AP in rats.

The Long-Term Effects of High-Fat and High-Protein Diets on the Metabolic and Endocrine Activity of Adipocytes in Rats

Simple Summary

The increasing prevalence of worldwide obesity and growing awareness of its negative consequences are forcing scientists to take a new view of nutrition and search for new diets. Therefore, to find some new relationships between diet and metabolism, we analyzed the effects of the long-term (60 and 120 days) use of a high-protein diet (HPD) and of a high-fat diet (HFD) on the metabolic and endocrine functions of fat tissue and on biochemical indices in rat blood in the present study. This research helped us to understand the roles of diet in the metabolic and endocrine functioning of adipocytes. Our study indicated that an HFD has a negative effect on fat tissue function, whereas the HPD showed positive results, such as increased insulin sensitivity and improved glucose and lipid metabolism in isolated adipocytes in vitro.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity and the rising awareness of their negative consequences are forcing researchers to take a new view of nutrition and its consequences for the metabolism of whole organisms as well as the metabolism of their individual systems and cells. Despite studies on nutrition having been carried out for a few decades, not many of them have focused on the impacts of these diets on changes in the metabolism and endocrine functions of isolated adipocytes. Therefore, we decided to investigate the effects of the long-term use (60 and 120 days) of a high-fat diet (HFD) and of a high-protein diet (HPD) on basic metabolic processes in fat cells—lipogenesis, lipolysis, and glucose uptake—and endocrine function, which was determined according to the secretion of adipokines into the incubation medium. Our results proved that the HPD diet improved insulin sensitivity, increased the intracellular uptake of glucose (p < 0.01) and its incorporation into lipids (p < 0.01) and modulated the endocrine function of these cells (decreasing leptin secretion; p < 0.01). The levels of biochemical parameters in the serum blood also changed in the HPD-fed rats. The effects of the HFD were inverse, as expected. We observed a decrease in adiponectin secretion and a diminished rate of lipogenesis (p < 0.01). Simultaneously, the secretion of leptin and resistin (p < 0.01) from isolated adipocytes increased. In conclusion, we noted that the long-term use of HPD and HFD diets modulates the metabolism and endocrine functions of isolated rat adipocytes. We summarize that an HFD had a negative effect on fat tissue functioning, whereas an HPD had positive results, such as increased insulin sensitivity and an improved metabolism of glucose and lipids in fat tissue. Moreover, we noticed that negative metabolic changes are reflected more rapidly in isolated cells than in the metabolism of the whole organism.

Can serum resistin predict severity of acute pancreatitis?

OBJECTIVE

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common disorder with high mortality in severe cases. Several markers have been studied to predict development of severe AP (SAP) including serum resistin with conflicting results. This study aimed at assessing the role of baseline serum resistin levels in predicting SAP.

METHODS

This prospective study collected data from 130 AP patients from July 2017 to Nov 2018. Parameters measured included demographic profile, serum resistin at admission, severity scores, hospital stay, surgery, and mortality. Patients were divided into two groups, severe and non-severe AP. The two groups were compared for baseline characteristics, serum resistin levels, hospital stay, surgery and mortality.

RESULTS

Among 130 patients, 53 patients had SAP. SAP patients had higher BMI, baseline CRP, APACHE II and CTSI scores (p-value 0.045, <0.001, <0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Both groups had comparable serum resistin levels. Serum resistin levels were also not different for obese and non-obese patients (p-value = 0.62). On multivariate analysis, BMI and high APACHE II score and CRP levels were found to independently predict SAP.

CONCLUSION

We found that serum resistin is not a useful marker for predicting the severity of AP and does not correlate with increasing body weight.

Resistin as a Prooxidant Factor and Predictor of Endothelium Damage in Patients with Mild Acute Pancreatitis Exposed to Tobacco Smoke Xenobiotics

Objectives

The study was aimed to assess the influence of tobacco smoke exposure on the intensity of inflammation measured by IL-6, α₁-antitripsin (AAT) and α₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP) concentrations, and Cd level and oxidative stress intensity measured by advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) concentration in the blood of healthy subjects and AP patients during hospitalization. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and resistin concentrations, markers of endothelium injury, were determined.

Results

An increased IL-6 concentration in healthy smokers compared to nonsmokers and AP patients compared to controls was shown. An increased AAT and AGP concentrations during hospitalization of AP patients were noted, in both smokers (AAT, AGP) and nonsmokers (AAT). In comparison to control groups, in AP patients, a 2-fold increased resistin concentration correlating with ET-1 concentration and decreased albumin concentration accompanied by increased AOPP concentration were demonstrated. AOPP concentration was higher in smokers with AP compared to nonsmokers and gradually enhanced during their hospitalization.

Conclusions

Tobacco smoke exposure can have a proinflammatory effect in both healthy subjects and AP patients. Increased resistin concentration in AP patients negatively correlating with albumin concentration has prooxidative effect on this protein resulting in enhanced AOPP level. Increased resistin concentration can intensify AAT and AGP production during AP.

Resistin: New serum marker for predicting severity of acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of resistin in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

Patients with acute pancreatitis who presented at the Gastroenterology Clinic, Erzurum Education and Research Hospital, Turkey were enrolled in this prospective study. White blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and resistin levels were measured on admission and at 24 h, day 3 and day 7 following admission, along with other blood parameters. Patients were divided into two groups: mild acute pancreatitis and moderate/severe acute pancreatitis.

RESULTS

Of 59 patients with acute pancreatitis (mild, n = 37; moderate/severe, n = 22), significant between-group differences were found in terms of resistin and CRP levels. Receiver operating curve analysis showed that resistin levels were better for predicting severe cases of acute pancreatitis than CRP or WBC levels on day 3 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.88 versus 0.81 and 0.63, respectively). Resistin levels on day 3 were better than CRP levels for predicting necrosis development (AUC, 0.70 versus 0.69, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Resistin may represent a new, effective indicator to predict the severity of acute pancreatitis and presence of necrosis in patients with acute pancreatitis.