Changes in plasma levels of fat-derived hormones adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory condition characterised by polyarthritis and severe change in body mass and neuroendocrine environment.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate plasma levels of adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin, visfatin and resistin) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to compare them with levels in healthy controls.


METHODS
Adiponectin, resistin, visfatin and leptin concentrations were measured in 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 18 healthy controls by using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.


RESULTS
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed considerably higher plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin and visfatin than healthy controls. No marked difference was observed in resistin levels between patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
A marked increase in plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin and visfatin was noted in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas resistin levels were similar to those observed in healthy controls. Coordinated roles for adiponectin, leptin and visfatin are suggested in the modulation of the inflammatory environment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas the lack of modulation in resistin levels is predictive of an irrelevant role for this peptide, suggesting that resistin level is probably not one of the main signals associated with the pathogenesis of this disease.
Otero
M
M
NEIRID (NeuroEndocrine Interactions in Rheumatology and Inflammatory Diseases) Laboratory, Santiago University Clinical Hospital, Spain.
Lago
R
R
Gomez
R
R
Lago
F
F
Dieguez
C
C
Gómez-Reino
J J
JJ
Gualillo
O
O
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D016207:Cytokines; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D052243:Resistin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human