An elevated plasma level of visfatin increases the risk of myocardial infarction

The Role of Adipokines in Cardiovascular Pathology

The recent decades saw a steady growth of obesity incidence worldwide. Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is also associated with a shorter life expectancy. Not only hemodynamic but also hormone metabolic processes, arising from excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in human body, underlie the development of CVDs. Adipose tissue has now been proved to be a hormone-active substrate. Studies of the influence of adipokines will bring us closer to understanding cardiovascular pathogenesis and help personalize prophylactic strategies.

Inflammatory Markers in Cardiovascular Disease; Lessons Learned and Future Perspectives

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) still remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is now established that inflammation plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis, and thus, it is closely linked to cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present review is to summarize and critically appraise the most relevant evidence regarding the potential use of inflammatory markers in the field of CVD.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive research of the relevant literature, searching MEDLINE from its inception until November 2018, primarily for meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials and observational studies.

RESULTS

Established markers of inflammation, mainly C-reactive protein, have yielded significant results both for primary and secondary prevention of CVD. Newer markers, such as lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1, cytokines, myeloperoxidase, cell adhesion molecules, matrix metalloproteinases, and the CD40/CD40 ligand system, have been largely evaluated in human studies, enrolling both individuals from the general population and patients with established CVD. Some markers have yielded conflicting results; however, others are now recognized not only as promising biomarkers of CVD, but also as potential therapeutic targets, establishing the role of anti-inflammatory and pleiotropic drugs in CVD.

CONCLUSION

There is significant evidence regarding the role of consolidated and novel inflammatory markers in the field of diagnosis and prognosis of CVD. However, multimarker model assessment, validation of cut-off values and cost-effectiveness analyses are required in order for those markers to be integrated into daily clinical practice.

SERUM BILIRUBIN CORRELATES WITH SERUM ADIPOKINES IN NORMAL WEIGHT AND OVERWEIGHT ASYMPTOMATIC ADULTS

Overweight and obesity are considered as chronic low-grade inflammation accompanied by imbalanced production of adipokines. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between serum bilirubin, which is an endogenous antioxidant with anti-inflammatory activity, and pro- and anti-inflammatory serum adipokines in asymptomatic normal weight and overweight individuals. Healthy men and women aged 25-49 participated in this cross-sectional study. All participants underwent fasting serological measurements of adipokines, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), total and direct serum bilirubin, and other biochemical parameters. Participants were divided into normal weight and overweight groups. We found a significant negative association between total bilirubin and CRP, TNF-α, visfatin and resistin values, and a significant positive association between total bilirubin and adiponectin values in both normal-weight and overweight groups. Importantly, after adjusting for body mass index, we also found a significant negative association between total serum bilirubin levels and both visfatin and CRP serum levels. Moreover, visfatin, resistin and CRP were predictors of the total serum bilirubin levels.

Circulating visfatin levels in the second and third trimester of pregnancies with gestational diabetes: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

There are multiple published conflicting associations of the adipocytokine visfatin with gestational diabetes. In this study, we attempted to investigate this relationship via a systematic review of the published literature.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Literature retrieval using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Hydi databases followed by article selection and data extraction were conducted. Relevant studies published up to June 2018 were included. In total, 29 cohorts that were published in 27 articles were analyzed. Three studies carried out in early pregnancy were excluded. A total of 2365 individuals, with 1069 gestational diabetes (GDM) cases and 1296 controls from studies describing visfatin in the second or third trimester of gestation were included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The difference in visfatin levels between women with GDM and the controls in the second and third trimester was measured by weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was inspected by using both subgroup and meta-regression analysis. Analysis was restricted to studies describing singleton pregnancies. The quality of included studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant difference in circulating visfatin levels in GDM during the second trimester of pregnancy (WMD -0.30 ng/mL, 95% CI: -2.06, 1.45, SE=0.895, P=0.733) was detected. Meta-analysis of the studies in the third trimester revealed a significant negative effect, that was however driven by only one study. This finding limits the meaningful interpretation of the pooled analysis. Significant heterogeneity was identified between studies, and meta-regression analysis showed that homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance contributes significantly to heterogeneity. In conclusion, our findings suggest that peripheral blood visfatin concentration cannot be robustly associated with gestational diabetes status in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

The relationship between visfatin and cardiac markers on induced myocardial infarction in rats

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most important reason of mortality into worldwide. Visfatin is a novel adipokine which was reported increased in metabolic syndrome and obesity. Moreover, it is known that visfatin increases in aterosclerotic endotelial dysfunction. In our study we want to demonstrate how visfatin changes in isoproterenol (ISO) induced MI. Rats were allocated into 4 groups in which each group included 6 rats in this study. 200 mg/kg ISO was administered into rats except control group to induce MI. I. and II. Group rats in 6th hour, III. Group rats in 24th hour and IV. Group rats in 7th day were decapitated. Visfatin was searched in cardiac tissues of all groups by immunohistochemistry stainning. Visfatin and cardiac markers' levels were measured in serum samples. Serum visfatin levels gradually increased in 6th and 24th hour in MI rats compared to controls. In 7th day visfatin levels decreased to control levels. These changes correlated with serum troponin T levels. These findings were supported by immunohistochemistry stainning of visfatin in cardiac tissues. It has been shown that visfatin could be useful in diagnosing MI and may be a biomarker for cardiac ischemia because of increasing in systemic circulation and cardiac tissues in MI like troponins.

Cardiovascular risk of adipokines: a review

Over the last two decades, the understanding of adipose tissue has undergone radical change. The perception has evolved from an inert energy storage tissue to that of an active endocrine organ. Adipose tissue releases a cluster of active molecules named adipokines. The severity of obesity-related diseases does not necessarily correlate with the extent of body fat accumulation but is closely related to body fat distribution, particularly to visceral localization. There is a distinction between the metabolic function of central obesity (visceral abdominal) and peripheral obesity (subcutaneous) in the production of adipokines. Visceral fat accumulation, linked with levels of some adipokines, induces chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders, including glucose intolerance, hyperlipidaemia, and arterial hypertension. Together, these conditions contribute to a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, directly associated with the onset of cardiovascular disease. If it is well known that adipokines contribute to the inflammatory profile and appetite regulation, this review is novel in synthesising the current state of knowledge of the role of visceral adipose tissue and its secretion of adipokines in cardiovascular risk.