Sex-specific association of plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations with obesity in children

Pancreatic Islets as a Target of Adipokines

Rising rates of obesity are intricately tied to the type 2 diabetes epidemic. The adipose tissues can play a central role in protection against or triggering metabolic diseases through the secretion of adipokines. Many adipokines may improve peripheral insulin sensitivity through a variety of mechanisms, thereby indirectly reducing the strain on beta cells and thus improving their viability and functionality. Such effects will not be the focus of this article. Rather, we will focus on adipocyte-secreted molecules that have a direct effect on pancreatic islets. By their nature, adipokines represent potential druggable targets that can reach the islets and improve beta-cell function or preserve beta cells in the face of metabolic stress. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:1-27, 2022.

Neuroendocrine Peptides of the Gut and Their Role in the Regulation of Food Intake

The regulation of food intake encompasses complex interplays between the gut and the brain. Among them, the gastrointestinal tract releases different peptides that communicate the metabolic state to specific nuclei in the hindbrain and the hypothalamus. The present overview gives emphasis on seven peptides that are produced by and secreted from specialized enteroendocrine cells along the gastrointestinal tract in relation with the nutritional status. These established modulators of feeding are ghrelin and nesfatin-1 secreted from gastric X/A-like cells, cholecystokinin (CCK) secreted from duodenal I-cells, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), oxyntomodulin, and peptide YY (PYY) secreted from intestinal L-cells and uroguanylin (UGN) released from enterochromaffin (EC) cells. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:1679-1730, 2021.

Copeptin and Nesfatin-1 Are Interrelated Biomarkers with Roles in the Pathogenesis of Insulin Resistance in Chinese Children with Obesity

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Copeptin and nesfatin-1 have recently been identified as novel peptides that play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related insulin resistance in adults. However, the relationship between them has not yet been elucidated, and their circulating levels in children with obesity have not been adequately studied. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate whether their levels are altered in Chinese children with obesity, as well as to determine the correlation of these 2 peptides with each other, with insulin resistance, and with other biochemical parameters. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 156 children were enrolled in this study, including 101 children with obesity and 55 lean controls. Anthropometric parameters and clinical data of all subjects were collected, and circulating tumor necrosis factor-α, adiponectin, leptin, copeptin, and nesfatin-1 levels were measured using ELISA. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Serum copeptin and nesfatin-1 levels were significantly elevated in children with obesity and children with insulin resistance compared to control subjects. In addition, nesfatin-1 and copeptin levels were found to be significantly positively correlated with one another by Pearson’s correlation and partial correlation. In multiple regression analysis using nesfatin-1 or copeptin as the dependent parameter, a significant correlation was observed between nesfatin-1 and copeptin, and associations between each of them with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were detected. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> These novel findings shed light on the possible interplay role of these 2 molecules in obesity-related insulin resistance.