Adipokine levels in Cushing's syndrome; elevated resistin levels in female patients with Cushing's syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with central adiposity, insulin resistance and impaired glucose homeostasis. Adipose tissue is thought to regulates glucose homeostasis via circulating adipokines, such as resistin, leptin and adiponectin, although their role in the insulin resistance associated with CS has not been established.


METHODS
We examined the relationship between insulin resistance and adipokine levels in CS patients. We compared plasma levels of resistin, leptin and adiponectin in 10 women and four men patients with CS, with 14 health subjects matched for age, gender and body mass index. A subgroup of three women and four men with pituitary-dependent CS were re-examined at least 9 months after curative surgery.


RESULTS
CS patients had significantly more truncal fat and less lean body mass as assessed by DEXA compared to control subjects. Total cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance, as calculated using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-R), was significantly increased in CS patients. Of the adipokines measured, only resistin was significantly different between female CS patients and female control subjects (5.05 +/- 0.56 vs. 2.91 +/- 0.39 micro g/l, P = 0.015). Curative surgery significantly reduced total body fat and truncal fat, leptin, total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, glucose and HOMA-R. A reduction in both resistin and adiponectin was also observed but the differences between pre- and post-treatment levels did not achieve statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Here we report for the first time that resistin levels are significantly elevated in CS patients and may be important in the insulin resistance associated with glucocorticoid excess.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Michal
M
Krsek
Josef V
JV
Silha
Jana
J
Jezková
Václav
V
Hána
Josef
J
Marek
Vladimír
V
Weiss
Jan J
JJ
Stepán
Liam J
LJ
Murphy
D052242:Adiponectin; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D052243:Resistin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; C499624:RETN protein, human; D052243:Resistin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol