title: Mid-regional-pro-adrenomedullin plasma levels are increased in obese adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, adrenomedullin (ADM) was defined as a new member of the adipokine family. ADM secreted by adipocytes, through its vasodilator and antioxidant actions, might be protective against metabolic syndrome-associated cardiovascular complications. The aim of the study was to assess plasma mid-regional (MR)-proADM levels in obese adolescents compared to normal-weight subjects and its relation with BMI, body composition and metabolic indices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma MR-proADM was measured in 32 healthy adolescents [BMI z-score (mean ± SEM) = 0.6 ± 0.09 and 0.8 ± 0.07 in females and males, respectively] and in 51 age-matched obese adolescents [BMI z-score (mean ± SEM) = 2.8 ± 0.12 and 2.9 ± 0.08 in female and males, respectively] by a time-resolved amplified cryptate emission technology assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma MR-proADM levels resulted significantly higher in obese than in normal-weight adolescents (MR-proADM: 0.33 ± 0.1 vs 0.40 ± 0.1 nmol/L, p < 0.0001). Using univariate analysis, we observed that MR-proADM correlated significantly with BMI z-score (p < 0.0001), fat mass (p < 0.0001), circulating insulin (p < 0.004), HOMA-IR (p < 0.005), total cholesterol (p < 0.03) and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05). Including MR-proADM as response variable and its significant correlates into a multiple regression analysis, we observed that fat mass (p = 0.014) and BMI z-score (p = 0.036) were independent determinants of circulating MR-proADM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows for the first time that obese adolescents have higher circulating levels of MR-proADM compared with normal-weight, appropriate controls suggesting its important involvement in obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy. delry@ifc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Ry
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabiati
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Diabetologia Pediatrica, U.O. Pediatria Universitaria, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di ricerca traslazionale e nuove tecnologie in medicina e chirurgia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caponi
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Cecco
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Diabetologia Pediatrica, U.O. Pediatria Universitaria, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marchi
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Diabetologia Pediatrica, U.O. Pediatria Universitaria, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Emioli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Randazzo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caselli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prescimone
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio, Pisa, Italy.|Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clerico
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Diabetologia Pediatrica, U.O. Pediatria Universitaria, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Federico
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000097:blood*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D053607:Adrenomedullin
keywords: Adipokine; Adolescents; MR-proADM; Obesity