Circulating resistin levels are not associated with obesity or insulin resistance in humans and are not regulated by fasting or leptin administration: cross-sectional and interventional studies in normal, insulin-resistant, and diabetic subjects.
Resistin is a novel adipocyte-secreted hormone proposed to link obesity with diabetes. Studies in mice have revealed conflicting data however, and the physiological role of circulating resistin in humans remains unknown. We conducted cross-sectional studies in 123 middle-aged women and 120 healthy young subjects and found that serum resistin levels did not correlate with markers of adiposity, including body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, or fat mass, or insulin resistance assessed by homeostasis model, lipid profile, or serum leptin levels; but females had higher resistin levels than males (P < 0.02). We also found no difference in serum resistin levels between lean healthy and obese insulin-resistant nondiabetic and type 2 diabetic adolescents. Finally, to evaluate the effect of food deprivation and/or leptin administration on resistin levels, we performed interventional studies that revealed no significant difference in resistin levels after 48 h of fasting and/or leptin administration at either physiological or pharmacological doses. We conclude that circulating resistin is unlikely to play a major role in insulin resistance or energy homeostasis in humans.
Lee
Jennifer H
JH
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Chan
Jean L
JL
Yiannakouris
Nikos
N
Kontogianni
Meropi
M
Estrada
Elizabeth
E
Seip
Richard
R
Orlova
Christine
C
Mantzoros
Christos S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002149:Energy Intake; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D052243:Resistin
D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; C499624:RETN protein, human; C486574:RETNLB protein, human; D052243:Resistin