Anorexigenic peptide (leptin, obestatin, nesfatin-1) levels and their impact on assisted reproductive technology treatment outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective

In this study we aimed to assess anorexigenic peptide levels in patients with or without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their effects on assisted reproductive treatment (ART) outcomes.

Methods

A prospective case-control study was conducted in a tertiary care university-based ART clinic. Eighty-three patients were included in the study. The PCOS group included 41 patients, and the non-PCOS group included 42 controls. The 2003 Rotterdam criteria were used for PCOS patient selection. The ART indications in the non-PCOS group were tubal factor or unexplained infertility. Venous blood samples were taken on the third day of the menstrual cycle to determine the serum anorexigenic peptide levels. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used for laboratory analyses.

Results

In the PCOS group, serum obestatin levels were significantly lower than in the control group, but serum anorexigenic peptide levels were similar in PCOS patients with or without clinical pregnancy. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was diagnosed only in PCOS patients, and the obestatin levels of OHSS patients were significantly lower than those of other PCOS patients.

Conclusions

Baseline anorexigenic peptide levels did not affect the clinical pregnancy rate in ART cycles. Obestatin may play a role in the pathophysiology of OHSS. This possibility should be confirmed in further research.

Metabolic cross-talk between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in high-intensity interval training vs. moderate-intensity continuous training by regulation of PGC-1α

PURPOSE

An imbalance in the production of adipokines and myokines impairs the energy expenditure, increases adipocyte and develops metabolic pathologies. Physical exercise is able to regulate the secretion of myokines and adipokines. The present study considers the metabolic cross talk between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in high-intensity interval training vs. moderate-intensity continuous training by regulation of PGC-1α.

METHODS

A sample of 32 male Wistar rats (8 weeks old with mean weight 250 ± 55 g) were divided into four groups randomly: control of base (CO), control of 8 weeks (CO8w), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). The rats were fed with standard chow diet. The CO group was killed at the start of the study and the CO8w group was kept alive for the same time as the experimental groups, but did not participate in any exercise. MICT and HIIT groups for 8 weeks were placed under the moderate-intensity continuous training (15-60 min, with speed of 15-30 m/min) and high-intensity interval training (8-4 intense period for 1 min, with speed of 28-55 m/min, with 3-7 slow-intensity period for 1 min, with a speed of 12-30 m/min) for 8 weeks, respectively. To measure the levels of serum irisin, nesfatin, and resistin the ELISA method was used and real-time PCR method was used to evaluate the relative expression of soleus PGC-1α gene mRNA.

RESULTS

The levels of irisin and nesfatin significantly increased in the HIIT compared with control groups (p = 0.001). Resistin values in both training groups showed a significant decrease compared to the control groups (p = 0.005). The level of PGC-1α gene expression in both HIIT and MICT groups was significantly increased in comparison with the control groups (p = 0.001).

DISCUSSION

The results showed that HIIT and MICT increase the transcription of the PGC-1α gene and possibly the increased expression of this gene after HIIT and MICT plays a central role in the secretion of skeletal muscle myokines and adipokines of adipose tissue.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

No Level of evidence: Animal study.

Classic and Novel Adipocytokines at the Intersection of Obesity and Cancer: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this review, we investigate the role of classic and novel adipocytokines in cancer pathogenesis synopsizing the mechanisms underlying the association between adipocytokines and malignancy. Special emphasis is given on novel adipocytokines as new evidence is emerging regarding their entanglement in neoplastic development.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent data have emphasized the role of the triad of overweight/obesity, insulin resistance and adipocytokines in cancer. In the setting of obesity, classic and novel adipocytokines present independent and joint effects on activation of major intracellular signaling pathways implicated in cell proliferation, expansion, survival, adhesion, invasion, and metastasis. Until now, more than 15 adipocytokines have been associated with cancer, and this list continues to expand. While the plethora of circulating pro-inflammatory adipocytokines, such as leptin, resistin, extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase, and chemerin are elevated in malignancies, some adipocytokines such as adiponectin and omentin-1 are generally decreased in cancers and are considered protective against carcinogenesis. Elucidating the intertwining of inflammation, cellular bioenergetics, and adiposopathy is significant for the development of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies against cancer. Novel more effective and safe adipocytokine-centered therapeutic interventions may pave the way for targeted oncotherapy.

Nesfatin-1 and visfatin expression is associated with reduced atherosclerotic disease risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Nesfatin is an anti-inflammatory molecule that reduces atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk. By contrast, visfatin has pro-inflammatory properties and is pro-atherogenic. We examined the potential impact of nesfatin and visfatin on atherosclerotic disease in 232 (113 black and 119 white) consecutive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from 2 centers. Independent relationships of nesfatin and visfatin concentrations with metabolic risk factors, endothelial activation, carotid atherosclerosis and altered plaque stability were determined in multivariable regression models. Rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity was associated with both nesfatin (β = 0.650, p < 0.0001) and visfatin levels (β = 0.157, p = 0.03). Visfatin concentrations were related to increased diastolic blood pressure (β = 4.536, p = 0.01) and diabetes prevalence (β = 0.092, p = 0.04). Nesfatin levels were associated with reduced carotid intima-media thickness (β = -0.017, p = 0.008). Nesfatin (β = 0.116, p = 0.001) and visfatin concentrations (β = 0.234, p = 0.001) were related to those of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), a plaque stability mediator. Nesfatin and visfatin concentrations were directly correlated (Spearman's rho = 0.516). The nesfatin-MMP-2 and visfatin-MMP-2 relations were both stronger in RF negative compared to RF positive patients (interaction p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively). Nesfatin is associated with reduced atherosclerosis and increased plaque stability mediator levels in RA. Visfatin is related to adverse cardio-metabolic risk in RA. Increased MMP-2 expression in relation to visfatin may represent a compensatory mechanism aimed at reducing cardiovascular risk in RA.

Nesfatin-1 in childhood and adolescent obesity and its association with food intake, body composition and insulin resistance

Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic peptide that controls feeding behavior and glucose homeostasis. However, there is little data that exists regarding nesfatin-1 secretion in obese children and young adolescents. The aim of this study is to investigate serum nesfatin-1 in childhood and adolescent obesity and to study potential correlations with food intake, anthropometric indices, body composition and insulin resistance. Forty obese children and adolescents and 40 healthy control subjects were studied. Anthropometric measurements were assessed, dietary food intake was evaluated based on 3-days food record and body composition indices were evaluated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were measured. Fasting serum nesfatin-1 was quantitatively assayed by ELISA. Serum nesfatin-1 was significantly higher in obese group (2.49±1.96 ng/ml) than in control group (0.70±0.81 ng/ml), P=0.001. Positive correlations with serum insulin (P=0.001), HOMA-IR (P=0.000), BMI-SDS (P=0.04), body fat % (P=0.000), fat mass (P=0.000), fat free mass (P=0.03), CHO % (P=0.000), and saturated fat % (P=0.01) were found. While significant negative correlation with protein % (P=0.000) was observed. In conclusion, our results denote that nesfatin-1 might have an important role in regulation of food intake and pathogenesis of insulin resistance in obese children and young adolescents.

The nesfatin 1 level in male patients with manic episode and alterations of nesfatin 1 level after antipsychotic and electroconvulsive treatment

BACKGROUND

Nesfatin 1 is a newly identified peptide structured satiety hormone that is claimed to be responsible for the provision of appetite and metabolic regulation in hypothalamus. The change in appetite and energy is a well-known clinical feature of affective disorders and within treatment. We aimed to investigate serum nesfatin 1 level in patients with bipolar disorder who were in manic episode and the influences of treatment modalities on nesfatin 1 level.

METHODS

Sixty eight patients were elected and were divided into two groups as: antipsychotic treatment (haloperidol 10-30 mg/daily+quetiapine 100-900 mg/daily) arm and ECT+antipsychotic treatment arm. And 30 healthy controls were included in the study.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference according to mean age between patients and controls. Initial nesfatin 1 levels in patients and in both subgroups of patients were statistically lower than in healthy control group. The initial level of nesfatin 1 between ECT+antipsychotic and pure antipsychotic patient groups was not statistically significant. We found a trend of increment in nesfatin 1 level after treatment in both patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first that revealed significantly lower nesfatin 1 level in manic episode than healthy controls. ECT+antipsychotic and antipsychotic treatments have no significant effects on nesfatin 1 level after manic episode treatment. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because of small sample size and being drug free only for one week.