Serum leptin, resistin and TNF‐α levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: the role of adipokines in scleroderma

Abstract

Leptin, resistin and TNF-α levels were found to be higher in SSc in contrast to the control group. These adipokines may have differentiating roles in the pathogenesis of SSc. In order to verify these findings, further clinical studies are needed with larger patient groups.

Serum adipokines levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: A meta-analysis

“…For the association between leptin levels and clinical features, Budulgan et al have showed that leptin levels were significantly lower in active patient than in inactive patients. However, Pehlivan et al have found that there were no association between leptin levels and skin score, activity score and disease duration in the SSc patients [25]. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarity the relationship between adiponectin/leptin levels and clinical features.…”

“…Totally, 356 patients and 279 healthy controls were studied for the serum adiponectin levels in SSc patients, and 254 patients 209 healthy controls were studied for the serum leptin levels in SSc patients. The characteristics of fourteen articles included in this metaanalysis are showed in Tables 1 and 2: 13 were case-control [13][14][15][16][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] and one was a clinical study [12]. For the clinical study, the baseline serum levels of adiponectin in patients and healthy controls were obtained in this study.…”

“…After having removed duplications and having reviewed abstracts and/or full articles, 14 papers were finally included in this study [12][13][14][15][16][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] (Figure 1). Among them, six of which were studied for the serum adiponectin levels in SSc patients, six of which were studied for the serum leptin levels in SSc patients, and two of them were studied both for serum adiponectin levels and serum leptin levels in SSc patients.…”

Adipokines influence the inflammatory balance in autoimmunity

“…Additionally, increased leptin expression has also been reported in Behçet's disease [69], psoriasis [70], and during the acute phase of ulcerative colitis, but leptin levels are reportedly decreased in ankylosing spondylitis and ANCA-associated vasculitis [71][72][73]. Conflicting reports exist regarding the status of leptin in patients with systemic sclerosis [74][75][76]. Taken together, these reports demonstrate a potential role for leptin either in regulating disease pathogenesis or in response to disease onset across a wide spectrum of autoimmune diseases, although in many cases further study is necessary to determine the precise role of leptin in these diseases.…”

Successful treatment of infliximab in a patient with scleroderma

“…Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists were reported to be useful for the treatment of fibrotic disorders. [2–7] However, TNFα has long been considered an antifibrotic cytokine. [8–10] Whether TNF antagonist is effective for SSc patients needs to be tested.…”