Fasting concentrations of nesfatin-1 are negatively correlated with body mass index in non-obese males.
BACKGROUND
We recently identified a novel anorexigenic protein, nesfatin-1, which is processed from nesfatin/nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2). However, the clinical importance of this protein has not been determined.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate its clinical significance in humans, we have established a new specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human nesfatin-1 in peripheral blood and measured its circulating concentration in healthy subjects.


METHODS
The new sandwich-type ELISA method was validated and then used to measure nesfatin-1 levels in plasma samples, under overnight fasting conditions, followed by oral glucose tolerance and meal tests.


METHODS
A total of 43 nonobese males (age: 24.5 ± 0.6, body mass index (BMI); 21.1 ± 0.3 kg/m(2)) were recruited to the study for evaluating fasting concentrations of nesfatin-1. In those, fifteen subjects underwent a 75- g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and another 15 underwent a meal test. In addition, fasting concentrations of nesfatin-1 were measured in nine males with high BMI (age: 32.4 ± 3.7, BMI; 37.3 ± 3.8 kg/m(2)).


RESULTS
Peripheral concentrations of nesfatin-1 showed a significant negative correlation with BMI, percentage body fat, body fat weight and blood glucose (P < 0.05). Nesfatin-1 concentrations were not significantly changed during OGTT and meal tests. Fasting nesfatin-1 levels were significantly lower in subjects with high BMI compared to nonobese subjects (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A new specific and sensitive ELISA for nesfatin-1 was established. Further accumulation of clinical observations is necessary to clarify the role of circulating nesfatin-1 in various metabolic disorders.
Tsuchiya
Takafumi
T
Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan Shibayagi Co Ltd, Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan. ttenmon@med.gunma-u.ac.jp
Shimizu
Hiroyuki
H
Yamada
Masanobu
M
Osaki
Aya
A
Oh-I
Shinsuke
S
Ariyama
Yasuyo
Y
Takahashi
Hiroki
H
Okada
Shuichi
S
Hashimoto
Koshi
K
Satoh
Tetsurou
T
Kojima
Masaaki
M
Mori
Masatomo
M
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007328:Insulin; C000630650:NUCB2 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D036361:Peptide Hormones