title: Fetuin-A: a novel link between obesity and related complications.
abstract: Fetuin-A (FetA) is a 64-kDa glycoprotein that is secreted from both the liver and adipose tissue. Circulating FetA is elevated in obesity and related disorders including type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome; and a FetA-related parameter, caliciprotein particle, is highly relevant to vascular calcification in overweight/obese patients with chronic kidney disease. FetA level is also associated with impaired insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Accumulating evidence suggests that elevated FetA level causes impaired glycemic control, as FetA has been implicated in impairment of insulin receptor signaling, toll-like receptor 4 activation, macrophage migration and polarization, adipocyte dysfunction, hepatocyte triacylglycerol accumulation and liver inflammation and fibrosis. Weight loss, aerobic exercise, metformin and pioglitazone have each been shown to be effective for reducing FetA level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Trepanowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mey
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Varady
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein