Wenjun Long1, Xuemei Xie2, Caiqi Du3, Yue Zhao3, Cai Zhang3, Di Zhan3, Zhuxi Li3, Qin Ning4, Xiaoping Luo3. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, longwenjun@hust.edu.cn. 2. Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. 4. Department of Infectious Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Circulating asprosin is a newly discovered adipokine that triggers the release of hepatic glucose stores and increases appetite. Asprosin levels are elevated in adult obese men as well as in mice, and reductions in asprosin protect against the hyperinsulinism associated with metabolic syndrome in mice with diet-induced obesity, which indicates a potential therapeutic role of asprosin in obesity and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: Few data on asprosin in children are available, which is why this study aimed to assess concentrations of fasting asprosin, as well as its relationship to parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism, in children. METHODS: Data on clinical and metabolic parameters were collected from 40 healthy normal-weight and 47 obese children. Circulating asprosin levels were measured using an ELISA. RESULTS: The concentrations of fasting asprosin were lower in the obese children (9.24 ± 4.11 ng/mL) than in the normal-weight controls (12.33 ± 4.18 ng/mL, p < 0.001). When comparing the two groups by sex, both the boys and the girls showed similar trends. In within-group comparison, the asprosin levels were lower in boys than in girls only in the obese group (8.13 ± 4.10 vs. 10.61 ± 3.78 ng/mL, p = 0.013) but not in the control group. Interestingly, asprosin was correlated with ALT after adjusting for age and sex in all participants; in boys, asprosin was correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR, insulin, and HDL after adjusting for age. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of asprosin were significantly lower in obese children than in normal-weight children, and there was a gender difference in asprosin concentration. Our results suggest a complex role for asprosin in energy metabolism.
BACKGROUND: Circulating asprosin is a newly discovered adipokine that triggers the release of hepatic glucose stores and increases appetite. Asprosin levels are elevated in adult obesemen as well as in mice, and reductions in asprosin protect against the hyperinsulinism associated with metabolic syndrome in mice with diet-induced obesity, which indicates a potential therapeutic role of asprosin in obesity and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: Few data on asprosin in children are available, which is why this study aimed to assess concentrations of fasting asprosin, as well as its relationship to parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism, in children. METHODS: Data on clinical and metabolic parameters were collected from 40 healthy normal-weight and 47 obesechildren. Circulating asprosin levels were measured using an ELISA. RESULTS: The concentrations of fasting asprosin were lower in the obesechildren (9.24 ± 4.11 ng/mL) than in the normal-weight controls (12.33 ± 4.18 ng/mL, p < 0.001). When comparing the two groups by sex, both the boys and the girls showed similar trends. In within-group comparison, the asprosin levels were lower in boys than in girls only in the obese group (8.13 ± 4.10 vs. 10.61 ± 3.78 ng/mL, p = 0.013) but not in the control group. Interestingly, asprosin was correlated with ALT after adjusting for age and sex in all participants; in boys, asprosin was correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR, insulin, and HDL after adjusting for age. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of asprosin were significantly lower in obesechildren than in normal-weight children, and there was a gender difference in asprosin concentration. Our results suggest a complex role for asprosin in energy metabolism.
Authors: Xuejing Wei; Qingqing Ao; Ling Meng; Yilu Xu; Cailing Lu; Shen Tang; Xinhang Wang; Xiyi Li Journal: Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao Date: 2020-01-30