Association of circulating omentin-1 level with lung cancer in smokers

Effect of waterpipe smoking and its cessation on metabolic biomarkers and a novel biomarker omentin-1

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Waterpipe smoking (WPS) has increased globally and may lead to various metabolic disorders. However, its long-term effects and cessation impact on metabolic biomarkers and omentin-1 remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of WPS and its cessation on metabolic biomarkers and omentin-1 levels and explore their correlations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

90 individuals were categorized into three groups (non-smokers, waterpipe smokers and cessation of waterpipe smokers). FBS and lipid profiles including TC, TG and HDL were measured using the Cobas 6000 c501 system, while FI was analyzed with the Cobas 6000 c601 system. Omentin-1 concentrations were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a human omentin ELISA kit.

RESULTS

FI, HOMA-IR and lipid profiles were significantly elevated in WPS and cessation groups. Omentin-1 and DBP levels significantly decreased in both groups compared to non-smokers. Increased WPS duration leads to reduced BMI, WC and DBP, while cessation duration decreases FBS and SBP. A negative association was identified among omentin-1 with FBS and O2.

CONCLUSION

WPS and its cessation adversely affect metabolic health, reducing omentin-1 levels and increasing the risk of metabolic disorders. Over time, cessation improves specific biochemical markers, highlighting the need for public health awareness.

High Intelectin-1 Expression Associated with Aggressive Tumor Behavior and Worse Survival in Rectal Cancer

Background

Multimodal treatment involving preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery is the current standard of care for rectal cancer. Despite advancements, the risk of recurrence, metastasis, and decreased survival remains high. This study aims to evaluate potential biomarkers to stratify prognosis in patients with rectal cancer undergoing preoperative CRT and surgery.

Methods

Through data mining of receptor-binding pathways in a published transcriptome for rectal cancer cases, ITLN1 was identified as the most relevant gene associated with poor response to chemoradiation (GO:0005102). Rectal cancer specimens (n = 343) collected between 1998 and 2017 were analyzed for ITLN1 expression using immunohistochemistry. The association between ITLN1 protein expression and clinicopathological features was assessed using Pearson's chi-square test. Survival outcomes based on ITLN1 expression were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with Log rank tests.

Results

ITLN1 immunoreactivity was significantly elevated in rectal tumor tissues. High ITLN1 expression was strongly associated with adverse clinicopathological features, including advanced post-treatment tumor status (T3-4; p = 0.001), post-treatment nodal status (N1-2; p < 0.001), vascular invasion (p = 0.017), perineural invasion (p = 0.001), and a lower degree of tumor regression (p = 0.009). Uni- and multivariable analyses revealed that high ITLN1 expression correlated with poorer disease-specific survival, local recurrence-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival compared to low ITLN1 expression.

Conclusion

Elevated ITLN1 expression is significantly associated with aggressive tumor behavior and unfavorable survival outcomes in rectal cancer. These findings highlight ITLN1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and provide a foundation for future research into its role in rectal cancer progression and treatment response.

The Association between Circulating Adipocytokine Omentin Levels and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver condition worldwide. NAFLD is often associated with features of Metabolic Syndrome such as obesity and insulin resistance.

METHODS

The current comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association between circulating Omentin levels and NAFLD. A systematic search in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases was conducted to identify relevant studies up until 5th May 2022. The standard mean difference (SMD) values and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for the association of Omentin levels with NAFLD risk in a random effect model.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis involved 6 case-control studies with a total of 371 cases and 269 controls. Pooled SMD showed no significant difference in serum Omentin between NAFLD and healthy groups (SMD= -0.047 and 95% CI -0.957_0.862 P=0.91). Subgroup analysis based on sample size showed that the average Omentin levels were significantly higher in NAFLD patients in studies with sample size ≥70 (SMD=0.356 CI 0.056_0.655 P=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Additional well-designed studies with more sample sizes are essential to clarify the potential role of Omentin as a risk marker of NAFLD.

Aerobic Exercise Training Effects on Omentin-1, Insulin Resistance, and Lipid Profile Among Male Smokers

Background: Omentin-1 is a circulating adipokine that can serve as a biomarker for assessment of metabolic risk factors. We investigated the effect of eight weeks of aerobic exercise training on serum omentin-1, insulin resistance and lipid profile in nonsmokers and smokers. Methods: Nineteen male nonsmokers (aged 27.88 ± 2.47 years, and with BMI of 22.69 ± 1.77 kg.m-2) and twenty male smokers (aged 30.11 ± 1.96 years, and with BMI of 23.12 ± 1.91 kg.m-2) were randomly assigned into nonsmokers control group (C), nonsmokers exercise group (E), control smoker group (CS), and exercise smoker group (ES). Exercise groups participated in an eight-week aerobic exercise training program (three times a week, 20-35 min per session at 55%-70% of maximum heart rate). Serum omentin-1 and insulin values were determined by ELISA. The Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), glucose level and lipid profile were measured before and after the intervention. Pearson correlation test, Eta test, paired samples t-test, one and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey test were applied for data analysis (p < .05). Results: Aerobic exercise improved both serum omentin-1 and high lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the exercise groups (P < .05). Also, exercise training reduced insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (p < .05). Omentin-1 was significantly correlated with glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C in both nonsmokers and smokers. Conclusions: The findings suggest that aerobic exercise-induced changes in omentin-1 in the exercise-trained groups may be associated with the beneficial effects of exercise on reduced insulin resistance and lipid profile.

The Role of Selected Adipocytokines in Ovarian Cancer and Endometrial Cancer

Due to their multidirectional influence, adipocytokines are currently the subject of numerous intensive studies. Significant impact applies to many processes, both physiological and pathological. Moreover, the role of adipocytokines in carcinogenesis seems particularly interesting and not fully understood. For this reason, ongoing research focuses on the role of these compounds in the network of interactions in the tumor microenvironment. Particular attention should be drawn to cancers that remain challenging for modern gynecological oncology-ovarian and endometrial cancer. This paper presents the role of selected adipocytokines, including leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, apelin, chemerin, omentin and vaspin in cancer, with a particular focus on ovarian and endometrial cancer, and their potential clinical relevance.

The Emerging Role of Intelectin-1 in Cancer

BACKGROUND

Intelectin (ITLN) is an adipokine with two homologs-ITLN1 and ITLN2-that has various physiological functions. Studies analyzing the relationship between ITLN and cancer are focused on ITLN1; the available literature on ITLN2 and cancer is limited. This review aims to evaluate the role of ITLN1 in cancer without imposing any inclusion criteria, to examine pro- and anticancer roles for ITLN1 and to discuss whether the relationship between ITLN and cancer is mediated by obesity.

FINDINGS

Overall, ITLN1 level was highly variable in cancer patients but different from healthy individuals. Compared with control groups, patients with gastrointestinal and prostate cancer showed increased concentrations of circulating ITLN1, while patients with gynecological, breast, bladder, and renal cancer had lower ITLN1 levels. Several studies also evaluated tissue and tumor expression of ITLN1. In gastrointestinal cancer, ITLN1 was increased in tumor tissue compared with adjacent healthy tissue and elevated in the visceral adipose tissue of patients compared with controls. Consequently, the high levels of circulating ITLN1 might be determined by the tumor and by the cancer-associated weight loss in gastrointestinal cancer. ITLN1 can activate the phosphoinositide-3-kinase-protein kinase B/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway. The improper regulation of this pathway may contribute to a series of cellular events that favor tumor development and progression. Obesity has been linked with an increased risk of developing some cancers. Indeed, low circulating ITLN1 levels may be a marker of the metabolic effects of obesity, rather than obesity per se, and might contribute to a deregulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

ITLN1 could be associated with cancer formation and progression. Since circulating ITLN1 levels are highly variable and differ between cancer types, the local tumor production of ITLN1 could be more relevant in determining malignant behavior. Future research should aim to identify the source of ITLN1 variability, to understand the differences in ITLN1 between distinct tumor types, and to further explore the signaling pathways through which this adipokine influences cancer biology.

The Influence of Biologically Active Substances Secreted by the Adipose Tissue on Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed gynecological neoplasms in developed countries and its incidence is rising. Usually, it is diagnosed in the early stages of the disease and has a good prognosis; however, in later stages, the rate of recurrence reaches up to 60%. The discrepancy in relapse rates is due to the heterogeneity of the group related to the presence of prognostic factors affecting survival parameters. Increased body weight, diabetes, metabolic disturbances and estrogen imbalance are important factors for the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer. Even though prognostic factors such as histopathological grade, clinical stage, histological type and the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors are well known in endometrial cancer, the search for novel prognostic biomarkers continues. Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ involved in metabolism, immune response and the production of biologically active substances participating in cell growth and differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis and carcinogenesis. In this manuscript, we review the impact of factors secreted by the adipose tissue involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism (leptin, adiponectin, omentin, vaspin, galectins) and factors responsible for homeostasis maintenance, inflammatory processes, angiogenesis and oxidative stress (IL-1β, 6, 8, TNFα, Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs)) in the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer.