Visfatin Is an Adipokine, But It Is Not Regulated by Thiazolidinediones

Abstract

The present study shows that visfatin is a true adipokine, but it is not regulated by TZD and, thus, is unlikely to contribute to the insulin-sensitizing actions of these drugs.

Serum visfatin and vaspin levels in normoglycemic first-degree relatives of Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…Pagano et al [28] reported that visfatin did not play a role in the development of insulin resistance, in human obesity, either as assessed by homeostasis model assessment or during lipid infusion. The findings of the latter study are in accordance with the results of other studies that did not find an association of serum visfatin with insulin resistance [10,27,29]. Taken together, the current knowledge does not suggest that visfatin plays an unequivocal role in the development of insulin resistance.…”

Comment on: Haider DG, Schaller G, Kapiotis S, Maier C, Luger A, Wolzt M (2006) The release of the adipocytokine visfatin is regulated by glucose and insulin. Diabetologia 49:1909–1914

“…After establishing the ELISA in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-and College of American Pathologists (CAP)-accredited standard operating procedures of the IKFE laboratory, we measured values in the 25-50 ng/ml range [3]. Our results are in line with other recently published investigations in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, in whom visfatin levels between 15 and 40 ng/ml were reported, again using the same ELISA test method [4][5][6]. This discrepancy further highlights the need to exercise caution when using old sample cohorts to identify new markers without prior careful investigation of the stability of the markers under the storage conditions used.…”

Regulation of adipokine secretion byn-3 fatty acids

“…However, others did not find any correlation between visfatin plasma levels and several parameters of insulin resistance, such as the homeostatic model assessment index, suggesting that visfatin is not related to insulin resistance in human subjects (103,106) . In this context, and contrary to observations in rodents, Hammarstedt et al (104) reported that neither gene expression nor visfatin circulating levels are regulated by thiazolidinediones in human subjects, suggesting that visfatin is not involved in the insulin-sensitizing properties of these drugs.…”

“…In fact, Berndt et al (103) did not find any correlation between visfatin plasma levels and visceral fat mass in obese subjects. Hammarstedt et al (104) also reported no association between circulating visfatin levels and fat abdominal content and/or with waist : hip ratio in people with diabetes. On the other hand, other studies have found an inverse relationship between visfatin and obesity development.…”