Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Chemerin (CHEM) is a newly-discovered adipokine involved in the immune, metabolic and reproductive processes. Low-grade state inflammation (LGSI) is a key element in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MS).

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of age on MS prevalence, androgenic status as well as on selected inflammatory indices and CHEM plasma concentrations. Additionally we investigated correlations between CHEM and age-dependent serum androgen changes in addition to LGSI parameters in males diagnosed with MS compared to healthy subjects.

Materials and methods: For the study 149 men aged 40 to 70 years were enrolled. They were divided into four equal numbers groups. Measurement of anthropometric indices, blood pressure and laboratory tests included fasting plasma glucose, lipids, CHEM, selected androgens, IL–18, hs-CRP and SHBG were carried out.

Results: The criteria for diagnosis of MS were fulfilled a total of 67 men (45%). The incidence on MS did not increase with age (P=0.533). Both adrenal androgens decreased with age (DHEA: P=0.0042; DHEAS: P<0.0001), as opposed to total (P=0.955) and free testosterone (P=0.526) as well as SHBG (P=0.074). CHEM concentrations increased with age (P=0.0089) and were higher in men diagnosed with MS compared to healthy subjects: 90.18 (53.7–190.61) vs. 73.64 (15.58–236.55) ng/mL; P=0.0002. Men diagnosed with MS revealed a significantly lower total testosterone serum level: 5.3 (2.0–15.2) vs. 6.3 (2.3–34.2) ng/mL; P=0.0004 and SHBG: 45.62 (17.17–120.31) vs. 71.97 (24.83–193.31) nM/L; P<0.000001. Furthermore, elevated LGSI indices have been demonstrated in men suffering from MS, as opposed to healthy ones [IL-18: 530.64 (261.46–944.97) vs. 418.85 (200.54–791.08) pg/mL; P=0.000045 and hs-CRP: 2.03 (0.31–38.0) vs.0.97 (0.08–90.3) ng/mL; P=0.0016)]. CHEM plasma concentrations were correlated with some components of MS (systolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and waist circumference). Additionally, CHEM serum levels were clearly correlated with LGSI indices: hs-CRP (R=0.265; P=0.001) and IL-18 (R=0.375; P=0.000009)- regardless of age, smoking, metabolic status and androgenemia. In contrast, CHEM plasma levels revealed no statistically significant relationships with androgenemia and SHBG plasma levels.

Conclusions: The elevated CHEM plasma concentrations detected in obese men diagnosed with MS are closely related to accompanying LGSI than to androgen deficiency.