Chemerin Ratios to HDL-cholesterol and Adiponectin as Biomarkers of Metabolic Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Aims

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) a global problem, which comprises a cardio-metabolic cluster of risk factors, increases the risk for type-2 diabetes (T2DM) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). To date, the best laboratory-based biomarker for MetS appears to be high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Chemerin, a novel adipokine is increased in MetS and appears to contribute to both insulin resistance and inflammation. In this pilot study, we tested if the chemerin:HDL-C or chemerin:adiponectin ratios are better biomarkers for predicting MetS than hsCRP.

Patients and Methods

We enrolled patients and controls with nascent MetS, uncomplicated by diabetes, ASCVD, macro-inflammation, and smoking using rigorous criteria. Fasting blood samples were obtained in order to calculate insulin resistance in the liver (HOMA-IR) and adipose tissue (ADIPO-IR) and for measurement of chemerin and adiponectin levels. Statistical analyses including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate data.

Results

We observed the chemerin:HDL-C ratio is significantly increased in MetS and increases with severity of MetS (p < .001). The chemerin: adiponectin ratio was not significantly increased following adjustment for age and waist circumference. The chemerin:HDL-C ratio correlated with BMI, WC, triglycerides, plasma glucose, HDL-C, and both HOMA-IR and ADIPO-IR. ROC curve analysis showed that the chemerin:HDL-C ratio area under the curve (AUC) was greater than the AUC for hsCRP.

Conclusion

In this preliminary report, we demonstrate that the ratio of chemerin to HDL-C is a valid biomarker of MetS and appears to be a better predictor than hsCRP. These findings need to be confirmed in larger studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemerin
• adipokines
• adiponectin
• HDL-cholesterol
• metabolic syndrome

Author Contribution

JE and IJ conceived the aim of this study. IJ supervised the research. Data were prepared by JE. All statistical analyses were undertaken by BAH. All three authors contributed to writing all versions of the manuscript and approved the final version for submission.

Disclosure Statement

None of the authors have any conflict of interest.