Serum leptin, resistin and TNF-α levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: the role of adipokines in scleroderma.
OBJECTIVE
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic fibrotic collagen tissue disease. Leptin's role in regulating immune and inflammatory response has become increasingly evident. Resistin has pro-inflammatory properties and also is associated with inflammatory markers in some rheumatologic diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine serum leptin, resistin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in SSc patients and evaluate their association with other frequently used laboratory and clinic findings.


METHODS
Sixteen patients were compared with 30 healthy women of similar age and body mass index. Serum leptin, resistin and TNF-α levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and results were assessed by Mann-Whitney U -test and Spearman's correlation test.


RESULTS
Leptin levels were significantly increased in the SSc group compared to controls (7789.43 ± 1180.72 pg/mL, 1790.55 ± 333.68 pg/mL, P < 0.0001). TNF-α was significantly elevated in patients and it was also positively correlated with leptin (25.30 ± 2.16 pg/mL, 20.95 ± 0.30 pg/mL, P = 0.001), (P = 0.002, r = 0.523). There was no association between leptin, resistin, TNF-α levels and skin score, activity score and disease duration in the SSc patients (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin, resistin and TNF-α levels were found to be higher in SSc in contrast to the control group. These adipokines may have differentiating roles in the pathogenesis of SSc. In order to verify these findings, further clinical studies are needed with larger patient groups.
Department of Rheumatology, Gaziantep University, Sahinbey Medical Center, Gaziantep, Turkey. drpehlivan@hotmail.com
Yavuz
Y
Pehlivan
Ahmet Mesut
AM
Onat
Nurdan
N
Ceylan
Ibrahim Halil
IH
Turkbeyler
Hakan
H
Buyukhatipoglu
Gazi
G
Comez
Taner
T
Babacan
Mehmet
M
Tarakcioglu
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D045745:Scleroderma, Limited / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D020738:Leptin; D052243:Resistin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha