Leptin and adiponectin levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The effect of infliximab treatment.
BACKGROUND
Adipose tissue-derived leptin and adiponectin control hunger, energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity, endothelial function, reproduction and immunity and are thought to play a role in autoimmune diseases. However, their role in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is not clearly defined. Tumour necrosis factor ΤNF-α is a potential modulator of adipocytokines. The effect of longterm anti-TNF-α treatment on plasma levels of leptin and adiponectin has not been assessed so far.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of a 6-month anti-TNF-α treatment on serum leptin and adiponectin levels in AS patients.


METHODS
Thirty men with AS were included in the study. Thirty age- and weight-matched men served as controls. Clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed and serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were measured with enzyme immunoassay methods prior to and after the 6-month treatment with infliximab.


RESULTS
Mean age and disease duration of AS patients were 40.6±13.7 and 13.4±8.4 years, respectively. At baseline, AS patients exhibited significantly higher adiponectin (15.4±8.3 vs. 8.6±4.2 μg/ml, p<0.05), but no difference in leptin levels (7.2±2.9 vs. 8.9±6.4 ng/ml, p=NS). Adipocytokines did not correlate with any disease parameter. Body weight of the patients did not change significantly over the 6-month period. Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin did not change significantly after the 6-month treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Adiponectin levels were significantly higher in AS patients compared with controls. Infliximab treatment did not change serum levels of leptin and adiponectin suggesting that the anti-TNF-α treatment may not modulate significantly their levels.
Laboratory of Physiology, Medical School, Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece.
C S
CS
Derdemezis
T D
TD
Filippatos
P V
PV
Voulgari
A D
AD
Tselepis
A A
AA
Drosos
D N
DN
Kiortsis
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D052242:Adiponectin; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D020738:Leptin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069285:Infliximab