The role of adipokines in connective tissue diseases

Abstract

ObjectiveTo discuss the relationship between adipokines and connective tissue diseases, by putting special emphasis on the potential role of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and other adipose tissue products in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and on possible application of adipokine-targeted therapy in the treatment of these disorders with emphasis on the recent findings.MethodsPubMed literature search complemented by review of bibliographies listed in identified articles.ResultsMost of the data presented by different research groups showed changed levels of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin and occasionally also other adpokines in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The relationship between the remaining connective tissue diseases and adipokines is less documented.ConclusionsPlasma levels of adipokines might tell us too little about their role in connective tissue disorders, whereas adipokine effects on synovial tissues might differ from their known metabolic or cardiovascular effects, which implies that some re-appraisal of adipokines role may need to take place. It still remains obscure whether the observed disturbances in various adipokine systems in subjects with connective tissue diseases contribute to their development or only reflect the presence or activity of inflammatory process, which itself is induced by other pro-inflammatory factors.

Adipokines in rheumatoid arthritis

“…Scotece et al (2012) [64] described the major effects of increased synovial and circulating levels of adiponectin in RA. [65] suggested that these different actions can be explained by different mechanisms: LMW adiponectin has anti-inflammatory activities, while the HMW adiponectin has proinflammatory activities. However, Frommer et al (2012) [66] showed a proinflammatory and destructive role of all isoforms Correlation between visfatin levels and disease activity and reduced levels after treatment.…”

Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and the Role of Selected Adipocytokines in This Process

“…Several researchers observed an increase in adiponectin concentration in SLE patients [57,91], while others did not ind differences compared to the control [50,58]. However, plasma adiponectin levels tend to be higher in patients with renal SLE in comparison to healthy controls and patients with nonrenal SLE [93].…”

“…It has been speculated that altered serum/plasma levels of adipokines in SLE might be related to coronary atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and the inlammatory process [57]; however, these correlations need to be further explored and documented [65]. A deep insight into the mechanisms of adipokine actions would help develop new therapies-also for autoimmune disorders [58,66].…”

“…It is also noteworthy that endothelial cells exhibit sensitivity to resistin. Although the role of resistin in SLE has not been fully determined [57,58], its concentrations in the peripheral blood of SLE patients are elevated and have been found to correlate with inlammatory markers, glomerular iltration rate, and glucocorticoid therapy [75,78]. However, other studies did not reveal signiicant diferences in serum resistin between patients with SLE and control participants [78].…”

“…Identiication of mechanisms common to inlammation and CVD might be of considerable interest especially in the context SLE, which is, potentially, a model disease for gaining a deeper insight into such mechanisms [13]. Generally, the relationship of adipokines to inlammation and coronary atherosclerosis in patients with SLE has not been fully elucidated [57]; for example, it has not been determined whether adiponectin concentrations in SLE result from metabolic disorders or inlammatory processes and nor has it been determined whether adipokine abnormalities associated with connective tissue diseases contribute to disease development or are caused by inlammation induced by other pro-inlammatory factors [58].…”