title: Circulating galanin and galanin like peptide concentrations are correlated with increased triglyceride concentration in obese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is strongly linked to metabolic complications, including type 2 diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. Experimental evidences indicate that galanin (GAL) and galanin-like peptide (GALP) are involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and energy metabolism. We evaluated the possible relationships between both peptide concentrations and blood fat indexes in obese and normal subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study groups consisted of 41 obese subjects (age 35.17±12.29year, BMI 30.97±2.75kg/m(2)) and 38 healthy controls (age 38.47±11.63year, BMI 22.83±3.00kg/m(2)). Plasma GAL and GALP concentration was determined using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma GAL and GALP concentration was significantly higher in obese subjects than healthy controls (P<0.001). In addition, the positive correlations were found between: GAL and triglyceride (TG) concentrations (r=0.636; P<0.001), GALP and TG concentrations (r=0.362; P=0.020) in obese subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that obese individuals have higher plasma GAL and GALP concentrations and both peptide concentrations were positively correlative to TG concentrations in obese human. GAL and GALP concentrations may be taken as potential biomarkers to predict development of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Hanlin College, Taizhou 225300, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Senile Diseases, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China 225001.
authors.forename: Penghua
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Taizhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Senile Diseases, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China 225001.
authors.forename: Mingyi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China. Electronic address: physiolpep@sina.cn.
authors.forename: Zhenwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019004:Galanin / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D044089:Galanin-Like Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D044089:Galanin-Like Peptide; D014280:Triglycerides; D019004:Galanin
keywords: GAL; GALP; Insulin resistance; Obesity