Serum and adipose tissue chemerin is differentially related to insulin sensitivity

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess serum chemerin concentratio n and s.c. adipose tissue (SAT) chemerin expression in relation to insulin sensitivity and obesity in young healthy subjects. Design: We performed a cross-sectional study including 128 subjects, 4 4 with normal weight, 44 with overweight and 40 with obesity. Methods: Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and SAT biopsy were performe d. Next, 30 subjects with obesity underwent 12-week weight-reducing dietary intervention. Results: Serum chemerin was higher and SAT chemerin expression was lowe r in subjects with obesity in comparison with other groups. The relationship of serum chemerin with SAT expression and insulin sensitivity were positive in normal weight and overweight individuals, and negative in individuals with obesity. In the e ntire study population, serum chemerin was also positively related to hsCRP, serum fetu in A and alanine aminotransferase. SAT chemerin was positively related to insuli n sensitivity, SAT insulin signaling and adipogenic genes. Weight loss decreased serum che merin, whereas SAT chemerin increased in subjects with the highest increase in ins ulin sensitivity. Conclusions: Serum and SAT chemerin is differentially associated with insuli n sensitivity and the relationship between serum chemerin and insulin sensitivity depends on adiposity. SAT chemerin is positively associated with insulin sensitivity acro ss a wide range of BMIs and may be proposed as a biomarker of metabolically healthy SAT. Our results suggest that SAT is not the main source of serum chemerin in obesity.

Keywords

• chemerin
• insulin sensitivity
• obesity
• adipose tissue
• adipogenesis