Antonela S Fittipaldi1, Julieta Hernández2, Daniel Castrogiovanni1, Daniela Lufrano1, Pablo N De Francesco1, Verónica Garrido2, Patrick Vitaux3, María Victoria Fasano4,5, Jean-Alain Fehrentz6, Adriana Fernández2, María F Andreoli4,7, Mario Perello1. 1. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular (IMBICE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional La Plata (UNLP) y Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2. Servicio de Nutrición del Hospital de Niños de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 3. Bertin Technologies, Montigny Le Bretonneux, France. 4. Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas (IDIP), Hospital de Niños de La Plata - CIC-PBA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 5. Departamento de Matemática, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, UNLP, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 6. Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247 CNRS-Université Montpellier-ENSCM, Faculté de Pharmacie, Montpellier, France. 7. CONICET, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The octanoylated peptide hormone ghrelin regulates appetite and glycaemic control. Des-acyl ghrelin abolishes some effects of ghrelin, but does not bind to ghrelin receptor. LEAP2 is a novel ligand for ghrelin receptor that blocks the effects of ghrelin. Some evidences show that plasma levels of these peptides are altered in adults with obesity, but their levels in childhood obesity remain poorly studied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess fasting plasma levels of ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin and LEAP2 in children with normoweight, overweight/obesity and their association with different anthropometric and metabolic variables. DESIGN: A total of 42 females and 40 males, ages 3-12 years old were enrolled as a cross-sectional cohort. RESULTS: Plasma levels of des-acyl ghrelin and LEAP2 (but not ghrelin) were lower and ghrelin/des-acyl ghrelin ratio was higher in children with overweight/obesity. Des-acyl ghrelin negatively correlated with age, BMI z-score, insulin and HOMA index, and the correlations were stronger in children with overweight/obesity. LEAP2 levels negatively correlated with BMI z-score. No gender differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ghrelin tone is increased in childhood obesity, due to a decrease on plasma levels of des-acyl ghrelin and LEAP2, and that des-acyl ghrelin is associated to insulin resistance, particularly in children with overweight/obesity.
OBJECTIVE: The octanoylated peptide hormone ghrelin regulates appetite and glycaemic control. Des-acyl ghrelin abolishes some effects of ghrelin, but does not bind to ghrelin receptor. LEAP2 is a novel ligand for ghrelin receptor that blocks the effects of ghrelin. Some evidences show that plasma levels of these peptides are altered in adults with obesity, but their levels in childhood obesity remain poorly studied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess fasting plasma levels of ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin and LEAP2 in children with normoweight, overweight/obesity and their association with different anthropometric and metabolic variables. DESIGN: A total of 42 females and 40 males, ages 3-12 years old were enrolled as a cross-sectional cohort. RESULTS: Plasma levels of des-acyl ghrelin and LEAP2 (but not ghrelin) were lower and ghrelin/des-acyl ghrelin ratio was higher in children with overweight/obesity. Des-acyl ghrelin negatively correlated with age, BMI z-score, insulin and HOMA index, and the correlations were stronger in children with overweight/obesity. LEAP2 levels negatively correlated with BMI z-score. No gender differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ghrelin tone is increased in childhood obesity, due to a decrease on plasma levels of des-acyl ghrelin and LEAP2, and that des-acyl ghrelin is associated to insulin resistance, particularly in children with overweight/obesity.
Authors: Stephanie Holm; Anna S Husted; Louise J Skov; Thomas H Morville; Christoffer A Hagemann; Tina Jorsal; Morten Dall; Alexander Jakobsen; Anders B Klein; Jonas T Treebak; Filip K Knop; Thue W Schwartz; Christoffer Clemmensen; Birgitte Holst Journal: Endocrinology Date: 2022-06-01 Impact factor: 5.051
Authors: Edoardo Vergani; Carmine Bruno; Cesare Gavotti; Luigi Simone Aversa; Maria Martire; Antonio Mancini; Diego Currò Journal: IUBMB Life Date: 2021-05-28 Impact factor: 3.885