Circulating Chemerin Level is Independently Correlated with Arterial Stiffness

• Published in: Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis 2012, Vol.19(1), pp.59-68
• Main Authors: Yoo, Hye Jin, Choi, Hae Yoon, Yang, Sae Jeong, Kim, Hee Young, Seo, Ji A, Kim, Sin Gon, Kim, Nan Hee, Choi, Kyung Mook, Choi, Dong Seop, Baik, Sei Hyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ankle Brachial Index; Atherosclerosis; Biomarkers - blood; Body Mass Index; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Case-Control Studies; Chemerin; Chemokines - blood; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity - blood; Obesity - complications; Prognosis; Pulsatile Flow; Pulse wave velocity; Risk Factors; Vascular Stiffness; Waist Circumference
• ISSN: 1340-3478; 1880-3873
• DOI: 10.5551/jat.9647

Aim: Adipokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and obesity-related disorders, including atherosclerosis. Chemerin is a recently discovered adipokine which is closely correlated with various metabolic phenotypes in humans. We examined the association between circulating chemerin levels and arterial stiffness, as represented by the brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Methods: Fifty-eight obese and 62 non-obese individuals participated in the study. We measured the serum chemerin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), as well as other cardiovascular risk factors. Vascular health was assessed by the baPWV and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Results: The serum chemerin level was significantly increased in obese individuals compared with lean controls (120.14±19.43 ng/mL vs. 106.81±23.39 ng/mL, p = 0.001). The circulating chemerin level had a significant positive correlation with the body mass index, waist circumference, HOMA-IR, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and hsCRP levels. The serum chemerin level was significantly associated with the baPWV (r= 0.280, p= 0.002), but not the carotid IMT (r= 0.065, p= 0.504). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p= 0.038), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), and serum fasting glucose (p= 0.003) and chemerin levels (p= 0.017) were definitive risk factors for arterial stiffness (r2=0.457). Conclusions: The circulating chemerin level was an independent risk factor for arterial stiffness even after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors.