Adropin - A new player in energy regulation predicts long-term prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction

Unveiling the multifaceted role of adropin in various diseases (Review)

Adropin is a secreted peptide encoded by the energy homeostasis‑associated gene, which also functions as a membrane‑bound protein facilitating intercellular communication. This peptide has been detected in various tissues and body fluids, including the brain, liver, kidney, heart, pancreas, small intestine, endothelial cells and colostrum. Notably, the amino acid sequences of adropin are identical in humans, mice and rats. Previous studies have demonstrated that adropin levels fluctuate under different physiological and pathological conditions. Adropin plays a role in regulating carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism and intercellular molecular signaling pathways, implicating its involvement in the progression of numerous diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction, lung injury, non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease/non‑alcoholic steatohepatitis, kidney disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity, and diabetes, atherosclerosis, systemic sclerosis and cancer. Despite its significance, the precise role and mechanism of this protein remain inadequately understood and studied. To elucidate the function of adropin and its clinical research status, a systematic review of recent studies on adropin across various diseases was conducted. Additionally, several challenges and limitations associated with adropin research in both animal and clinical contexts were identified, aiming to offer valuable insights for future investigation.

Adropin Predicts Asymptomatic Heart Failure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Independent of the Levels of Natriuretic Peptides

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), asymptomatic adverse cardiac remodeling plays a pivotal role in the development of heart failure (HF). Patients with T2DM often have low or near-normal levels of natriuretic peptides, including N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), which have been inconclusive in predicting the transition from asymptomatic adverse cardiac remodeling to HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The aim of this study was to elucidate the predictive ability of adropin for HFpEF depending on the circulating levels of NT-proBNP. We prospectively enrolled 561 T2DM patients (glycated hemoglobin < 6.9%) with echocardiographic evidence of structural cardiac abnormalities and left ventricular ejection fractions >50%. All patients underwent B-mode transthoracic echocardiographic and Doppler examinations. Circulating biomarkers, i.e., NT-proBNP and adropin, were assessed at baseline. All individuals were divided into two groups according to the presence of low levels (<125 pmol/mL; n = 162) or elevated levels (≥125 pmol/mL; n = 399) of NT-proBNP. Patients with known asymptomatic adverse cardiac remodeling and elevated NT-proBNP were classified as having asymptomatic HFpEF. A multivariate logistic regression showed that low serum levels of adropin (<3.5 ng/mL), its combination with any level of NT-proBNP, and use of SGLT2 inhibitors were independent predictors of HFpEF. However, low levels of adropin significantly increased the predictive ability of NT-proBNP for asymptomatic HFpEF in patients with T2DM, even though the concentrations of NT-proBNP were low, while adropin added discriminatory value to all concentrations of NT-proBNP. In conclusion, low levels of adropin significantly increase the predictive ability of NT-proBNP for asymptomatic HFpEF in patients with T2DM.