title: Leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin levels in female patients with asthma during stable and exacerbation periods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and asthma have not been fully established. Data in the literature suggest that adipose tissue-derived hormones may be implicated. However, no definite conclusions regarding the role of leptin and adiponectin with asthma are available. No studies have examined the role of ghrelin in asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the circulating concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin in 32 postmenopausal stable asthma patients, 37 female asthmatics during exacerbations and 8 weeks later, and 22 controls. We examined the relationship between the three peptides and indexes of pulmonary function, airway inflammation, and atopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stable asthma patients exhibited higher leptin and lower ghrelin concentrations compared with controls. Patients with severe asthma had higher leptin and lower adiponectin levels versus patients with mild to moderate asthma. Both leptin concentrations and leptin/adiponectin ratio served as markers for discriminating asthma patients from controls on the one hand, and severe from mild to moderate asthmatics on the other. Leptin levels were inversely correlated with both FEV(1)/FVC and FEF(25-75) in patients with mild to moderate asthma. Atopic asthma patients had higher leptin concentrations than nonatopic asthma patients. There was a positive correlation between serum leptin and total IgE levels in atopic asthmatics. Finally, serum leptin levels and leptin/adiponectin ratio were significantly increased during asthma exacerbations, while adiponectin and ghrelin levels were significantly decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma during both stable state and asthma exacerbation, independent of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly School of Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece. tsarita_79@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Agori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsaroucha
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Daniil
authors.forename: Foteini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malli
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Georgoulias
authors.forename: Markos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minas
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kostikas
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bargiota
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zintzaras
authors.forename: Konstantinos I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Gourgoulianis
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012372:ROC Curve
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin