The serum levels of resistin in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
OBJECTIVE
Adipocyte-derived resistin is a circulating protein implicated in insulin resistance, but the role of human resistin is uncertain because it is produced largely by macrophages. The aim of this study was to analyze serum resistin concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to determine the role of resistin in human inflammatory diseases.


METHODS
Resistin concentrations were assessed by ELISA in serum samples from 42 patients with RA. Serum samples from 38 healthy subjects acted as controls. We also evaluated the circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-alpha) and disease activity markers in RA patients.


RESULTS
In RA patients, serum resistin levels were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects. Serum resistin levels in RA patients were correlated with the RA disease activity markers, CRP and ESR. Furthermore, resistin levels in RA patients were significantly correlated with circulating levels of TNF-alpha.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum resistin levels were significantly increased in RA patients and correlated with inflammatory markers and TNF-alpha, suggesting that resistin may play a role in the rheumatoid inflammatory process.
Migita
K
K
Clinical Research Center, Department of General Internal Medicine, NHO Nagasaki Medical Center, Kubara, Omura, Japan. migita@nmc.hosp.go.jp
Maeda
Y
Y
Miyashita
T
T
Kimura
H
H
Nakamura
M
M
Ishibashi
H
H
Eguchi
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
C499624:RETN protein, human; D052243:Resistin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein