Deficient serum furin predicts risk of abdominal obesity: findings from a prospective cohort of Chinese adults

Abstract

BackgroundAs a key enzyme of natriuretic peptides system playing an integral role in energy homeostasis, furin may be a potential contributor to obesity. However, the association between furin and obesity has been scarcely studied. This study aims to examine the prospective association between serum furin and abdominal obesity.MethodsWaist circumference (WC) was measured twice 4 years apart for a total of 892 Chinese adults free of abdominal obesity at baseline. Abdominal obesity was defined as WC over 85 cm for men and as WC over 80 cm for women. A Cox proportional hazard model was constructed to examine the association of baseline serum furin with incident abdominal obesity.ResultsAfter an average 4 years of follow-up, 184 participants developed new abdominal obesity. Baseline serum furin was significantly associated with dynamic body weight during follow-up (β=−0.593, p=0.003). Participants with a higher level of serum furin at baseline were less likely to develop new abdominal obesity compared with those with a lower level of serum furin (HR=0.81, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.97).ConclusionsA lower level of serum furin predicts a higher risk of developing future abdominal obesity in Chinese adults. Furin deficiency may be a contributor to abdominal obesity but still needs further investigations.

Persistently Increased Systemic ACE2 Activity Is Associated With an Increased Inflammatory Response in Smokers With COVID-19

“…Still, there have been associations established between dysregulated serum furin levels and the occurrence of metabolic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cardiovascular disease. While lower serum furin levels were indicative of abdominal obesity and hypertension, higher furin levels were associated with diabetes and myocardial infarction (Fernandez et al, 2018;He et al, 2019He et al, , 2020Wang Y. K. et al, 2020). We speculate that lowered furin levels indicate the increased internalization of Furin for viral cleavage; however, further work is required to ascertain the role of intracellular and extracellular Furin in the development of COVID-19.…”

Iron Metabolism in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

“…A population of 892 Chinese adults without abdominal obesity at baseline was followed-up for four years. They found baseline serum furin deficiency to be a contributor to abdominal obesity [ 146 ]. Gajewska et al determined the iron status in a group of 80 children and found the obese ones to have a 40% increase in hepcidin levels, as well as a 30% reduction in FPN1 levels.…”

A multicenter consensus: A role of furin in the endothelial tropism in obese patients with COVID-19 infection

“…Plasma Furin levels were associated with future DM (Diabetes Mellitus) and obesity, independently of all traditional DM risk factors. Regarding potential mechanisms, as Furin is responsible for the maturation of the insulin pro-receptor; one could speculate that more Furin in the circulation reflects a compensatory mechanism to increase the synthesis of active insulin receptors ( Fernandez et al, 2018 ; He et al, 2020 ). Another possible mechanism of action of Furin in DM development may be via pancreatic beta cells, as Furin has been demonstrated to control the proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic beta cell lines, as well as involvement in the maturation of insulin secretory granules ( Kayo et al, 1997 ).…”