Increased plasma levels of visfatin/pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor in obese and overweight patients with metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Visfatin [pre-B cell colony- enhancing factor (PBEF)] is a cytokine highly expressed in visceral fat that exhibits insulin-mimetic properties. However, its role in insulin-resistant states, such as in metabolic syndrome (MetS), remains largely unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible differences of plasma visfatin levels between obese and overweight subjects with and without MetS.


METHODS
Plasma visfatin concentrations were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 28 overweight and obese [body mass index (BMI)>28 kg/m2] subjects with Mets and 28 age- and sex-matched overweight and obese (BMI>28 kg/m2) individuals without MetS (control group).


RESULTS
Patients with MetS exhibited significantly elevated waist circumference (WCR ) values, higher blood pressure readings, higher fasting glucose and triglyceride concentrations as well as lower levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) compared with controls. Total and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations did not differ significantly between the two groups. Plasma visfatin concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with MetS compared with controls [27 (16- 65) ng/ml vs 19 (10-47) ng/ml, p<0.05]. The same results were observed even after adjustment for age, sex and BMI. Plasma visfatin levels were positively correlated with age (r=0.32, p<0.05), WCR (r=0.31, p<0.05), triglyceride (r=0.59, p<0.01) and glucose (r=0.33, p<0.05) levels and were negatively correlated with HDL-C levels (r=-0.38, p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed similar results.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma visfatin levels are increased in overweight and obese subjects with MetS compared with those individuals who do not fulfil the criteria for the diagnosis of MetS.
Filippatos
T D
TD
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Derdemezis
C S
CS
Kiortsis
D N
DN
Tselepis
A D
AD
Elisaf
M S
MS
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight
D016207:Cytokines; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human