Background Spexin (SPX) is a novel peptide that is implicated in obesity and related energy homeostasis in animals and adult humans. Little is known about its role in adults' overall cardiometabolic health. The aim of the study was to determine whether circulating levels of spexin (SPX) is associated with components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods The present cross-sectional study included 124 participants (41 males and 83 females; aged 42.4 ± 10.3 y) (MetS group) and 136 (21 male and 115 females; aged 33.1 ± 8.7 y) (non-MetS group). SPX was measured using commercially available assays. Anthropometrics were measured, and fasting serum glucose levels as well as lipid profile were quantified routinely. MetS was screened according to common definitions. Results SPX levels were significantly lower in participants with MetS vs. non-MetS (0.18 ng/ml (0.13–0.24) vs. 0.26 ng/ml (0.17–0.50); p < 0.001). In all MetS definitions used, SPX was significantly lower in the MetS group than the non-MetS group using the WHO definition after adjustment for age and BMI. Stratification according to sex revealed that SPX was associated with MetS only in women, and this significance was lost after adjustment for age and BMI. Conclusions Lower circulating levels of SPX in adults are modestly associated with components of MetS and are sex-specific. Further studies are necessary to determine whether SPX is associated with harder outcomes such as atherosclerosis and diabetes in the general population.

Spexin (SPX) is a novel biomarker abundantly expressed in several animal and human tissues implicated in food intake and glucose control, respectively. As new roles for SPX are emerging, the present study explored for the first time, the associations of SPX to several cardiometabolic indices and inflammatory markers in pregnant women, a demographic not yet investigated with respect to SPX. A total of 117 Saudi women subdivided to those with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (N = 63) and those without (N = 54) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometry, glycemic, lipid, vitamin D, adipocytokines and inflammatory markers were measured consecutively at baseline and after the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Age- and BMI adjusted comparisons revealed that levels of SPX were not significantly different in pregnant women with and without GDM. In all subjects, circulating levels of SPX showed modest associations with glucose (R = 0.18; p = .08) and HOMA β (R = -0.19; p = .09) as well as significant positive associations with total cholesterol (R = 0.25; p = .02), LDL-cholesterol (R = 0.25; p = .02), 25(OH)D (R = 0.22; p = .04), albumin (R = 0.30; p < .01) and IL1β (R = 0.41; p < .01). Stepwise regression analysis also suggested that IL1β, leptin and albumin were the significant predictors of SPX. In summary, SPX levels modestly affect glucose and insulin sensitivity in pregnant women but is not associated with GDM and obesity. The significant association of SPX to ILβ warrants further investigation as to the role of SPX in immune modulation.

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Spexin (SPX) is a novel peptide thought to have a role in various metabolic regulations. Given its presumed body-weight regulatory functions, we aimed to determine whether lifestyle intervention programs on weight loss and fasting glucose (FG) improvement among people with impaired glucose regulation also alter levels of circulating SPX. A total of 160 Saudi adult males and females with prediabetes were randomly selected from a larger cohort (N = 294) who underwent a 6-month lifestyle modification program to improve their glycemic status. Participants were split into two groups based on differences in glucose levels post-intervention, with the first 50% (improved group) having the most significant reduction in FG. SPX was measured at baseline and after 6 months. Changes in SPX was significant only in the improved group [baseline: median (Q1–Q3) of 164 pg/ml (136–227) vs follow-up: 176 pg/ml (146–285); p < 0.01]. When stratified by sex, the significant increase was observed only in females [159 pg/ml (127–252) vs 182.5 (152,369.1); p < 0.01]. Furthermore, SPX levels showed a significant inverse association with FG (β = −0.22, p = 0.003) even after adjustment with age and BMI, again only in females. Circulating SPX levels increase over time in people with prediabetes, particularly women who responded favorably in a 6-month lifestyle intervention program. Whether an unknown mechanism regulating the sexual disparity seen in SPX levels post-intervention exists should be further investigated using a larger sample size.

BackgroundSpexin (SPX) is a novel peptide thought to have a role in various metabolic regulations. Given its presumed body‐weight regulatory function, we aimed to determine whether lifestyle intervention programs focusing on weight loss and improvement in fasting glucose (FG) among people with impaired glucose regulation also induces changes in circulating levels of SPX.Materials and MethodsA total of 160 Saudi males and females with prediabetes were randomly selected from a larger cohort of 294 who underwent a 6‐month lifestyle modification and/or metformin treatment to improve their glycemic status. Participants were split in two groups based on differences in glucose levels post‐intervention, with the first 50% (improved group) having the most significant reduction in FG. SPX was measured in both time‐points.ResultsChanges in SPX was significant only in this group [baseline median (Q1–Q3) 164pg/ml (136–227) vs follow‐up 176pg/ml (146–285); p<0.01]. When stratified by sex, the significant increase was observed only in females [159pg/ml (127–252) vs 182.5 (152,369.1); p<0.01], not in males. Furthermore, SPX levels showed a significant inverse association with FG (β=−0.22, p=0.003) only in females after adjustment for age and BMI.ConclusionsThe study demonstrated that prospective changes in FG inversely modulates SPX levels in a sexually dimorphic manner.Support or Funding InformationDeanship of Scientific Research, KSU and the Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases (CBCD), Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University Association of spexin with glycemic indexes. Fasting glucose (3A), insulin (3B) and HOMA‐IR (3C) on X‐axis and spexin on Y‐axis. Significant inverse correlations between SPX and glycemic indices were seen only in females. “r” depicts pearson correlation coefficient and “p” is the associated p‐value. P‐value <0.05 is considered significantimageAssociation of spexin with glycemic indexes. Fasting glucose (3A), insulin (3B) and HOMA‐IR (3C) on X‐axis and spexin on Y‐axis. Significant inverse correlations between SPX and glycemic indices were seen only in females. “r” depicts pearson correlation coefficient and “p” is the associated p‐value. P‐value <0.05 is considered significantThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.