THE EFFECTS OF OBESITY ON PLASMA LEVELS OF OMENTIN, A DEPOT-SPECIFIC ADIPOCYTOKINE

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic pathological condition and a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It has been demonstrated that adipose tissue functions not only as a fat storage depot but also as an endocrine organ. Omentin is a protein expressed and secreted in adipose tissue that increases insulin-stimulated glucose transport. To further elucidate omentin's physiological function, its levels were measured by quantitative western blotting in plasma from 44 healthy nondiabetic volunteers (22 women, 22 men). Participants were organized into sibling pairs based on discordant BMI (3-12 Kg/m2). Lean subjects had significantly higher omentin levels than obese/overweight subjects (independent of sex), and significantly higher omentin levels were detected in women compared to men. Omentin levels were inversely correlated with BMI and positively correlated with HDL levels. These data suggest that omentin may play a physiological role in the pathogenesis of obesity-dependent insulin resistance.