ASSESSMENT OF SERUM ALARIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Serum levels of galanin-like peptide and alarin are highly correlated with polycystic ovary syndrome

To compare the levels of galanin-like peptide (GALP) and alarin between patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and a control group, and to explore the correlations between GALP/alarin and PCOS. We selected a total of 103 PCOS patients and 89 non-PCOS control patients who visited the hospital during the same period. The PCOS patients and the controls were assigned by body mass index (BMI) into PCOS subgroup 1 and control subgroup 1 (18.5 < BMI < 24 kg/m2) and into PCOS subgroup 2 and control subgroup 2 (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2). The general indices (weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference), serum sex hormone concentrations, biochemical indices, and GALP and alarin levels were measured for all subjects, and the differences in each index were compared between the two groups. (1) The BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipid accumulation product (LAP), total testosterone (total T), luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, fasting insulin (FINS), triglycerides (TG), alanine transaminase (ALT), HOMA-IR, and GALP and alarin concentrations were significantly higher and the AST/ALT ratio was significantly lower in the PCOS patients than in the controls. (2) Correlation analysis showed that serum GALP levels were positively correlated with BMI, WHR, LAP, total T, LH, FINS, TG, HOMA-IR, and alarin, and negatively correlated with AST/ALT. Serum alarin levels were correlated positively with BMI, WHR, LAP, total T, LH, FINS, TG, HOMA-IR, and GALP, and negatively with FSH and AST/ALT. Serum LAP, FINS, LH, and alarin were independent factors that influenced serum GALP levels, and serum FINS, LAP, LH, and GALP were independent factors that influenced serum alarin concentrations. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (95% confidence intervals) for serum GALP and alarin levels in predicting PCOS were 0.78 (0.713, 0.847) and 0.828 (0.766, 0.889), respectively, and the cutoff values were 0.895 and 0.355, respectively. GALP and alarin were highly expressed in PCOS patients and closely associated with factors such as IR, HA, and obesity, and they showed favorable predictive values for PCOS.

Alarin regulates RyR2 and SERCA2 to improve cardiac function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a complex disease that is increasingly prevalent due to population aging, pose significant challenges in its treatment. The present study utilized the HFpEF rat model and H9C2 cells as research subjects to thoroughly investigate the potential mechanisms of alarin in protecting cardiac function in HFpEF. The study shows that under HFpEF conditions, oxidative stress significantly increases, leading to myocardial structural damage and dysfunction of calcium ion channels, which ultimately impairs diastolic function. Alarin, through its interaction with NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1), effectively alleviates oxidative stress and modulates the activities of type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2 (SERCA2), thereby facilitating the restoration of Ca2+ homeostasis and significantly improving cardiac function in the HFpEF model. This research not only uncovers the cardioprotective effects of alarin and its underlying molecular mechanisms but also provides new insights and potential therapeutic targets for HFpEF treatment strategies, suggesting a promising future for alarin and related therapies in the management of this debilitating condition.

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.

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.