Article - Ghrelin and Leptin in Insulin Resistance (CHECKED)
Article - Ghrelin and Leptin in Insulin Resistance (CHECKED)
Article - Ghrelin and Leptin in Insulin Resistance (CHECKED)
Research Article
Open Access
Abstract
Objective: Obesity and its complications including metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been increased in children
and adolescents recently. Leptin is known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity. The objective of this
study was to evaluate the relationship between Leptin, Ghrelin and Insulin resistance in the development of metabolic
syndrome in obese persons.
2
. Twenty of them
Methods:
have metabolic syndrome. Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), and blood pressure were measured.
Fasting Plasma Glucose (FBG), two hours Post Prandial Blood Glucose (PPBG), Glycated hamoglobin A1C (HbA1c),
triglyceride (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C), serum
Results:
between plasma Ghrelin and BMI, WC, SBP, DBP, and FBS, PPBG, serum TG, TC, LDL-C, HbA1c, and HOMA-B was
Plasma Ghrelin was positively correlated with HDL-C while Leptin was positively correlated with it in obese and MetS
correlation between plasma insulin and leptin in obese and MS groups.
Conclusion: There are hormonal changes associated with clusters of metabolic abnormalities and elevation of
blood pressure that may have a role in the development of MetS in obese persons and are major CHD risk factors.
Insulin has stimulatory trophic effect on leptin secretion, but the effect of leptin on insulin is controversial as leptin may
modulate insulin action and participates in the development of insulin resistance. As regard Ghrelin secretion, there
are many suppressive factors: insulin, Leptin and glucose. Our study produces a preliminary result, thus further studies
with large number of patients are required.
syndrome
Introduction
Obesity is generally recognized as an increasingly important cause of
childhood and adolescent morbidity worldwide and is a contributor to
chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Coronary
Heart Disease (CHD) [1]. Obesity has central role in Metabolic Syndrome
(MetS). MetS has appeared with increasing frequency in children and
adolescents, driven by the growing pediatric obesity epidemic [1,2].
Behavioral factors such as poor dietary habits, a sedentary lifestyle, and
a social environment which encourages unhealthy behaviors are closely
correlated with the prevalence of obesity and MetS in adolescents [3].
MetS is characterized by a clustering of metabolic abnormalities which
leads to increased cardiovascular disease and all-causes mortality. The
five generally accepted features of metabolic syndrome are obesity,
insulin resistance, dyslipidemia [including increased triglycerides and
decreased HDL], impaired glucose tolerance, and hypertension [4].
Recent studies suggest that MetS may be associated with subsequent
risk of T2DM and CHD in young population, particularly in the
overweight or obese. Considering recent global rise of childhood
obesity prevalence, the overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome
in children and adolescents seems to be higher than what is estimated
from previous studies [5].
Leptin is a peptide produced by differentiated adipocytes. It is
thought to be a key hormone in the regulation of body fat stores. This
peptide controls energy metabolism at the level of hypothalamus by
supporting the food intake and stimulating energy expenditure [6]. The
Endocrinol Metab Synd
ISSN: 2161-1017 EMS, an open access journal
relationship between serum Leptin and body mass index has been well
established [7]. Leptin is also proposed to be associated with insulin
resistance and diabetes in human [8]. However, potential relationship
between metabolic syndrome and leptin has not been sufficiently
addressed in previous studies, particularly in children [9]. Ghrelin
is a novel 28-amino acid residue peptide hormone predominantly
produced by the stomach. Substantially lower amounts were detected
in bowel, pancreas, kidneys, the immune system, placenta, testes,
pituitary, lung, and hypothalamus [10]. Ghrelin displays strong Growth
Hormone (GH)-releasing activity, which is mediated by the activation
of the so-called GH secretagogue (GHS) receptor type la (GHS-R
la) [11]. At the hypothalamic level, Ghrelin acts via mediation of
GHRH-secreting neurons as indicated by pretreatment with GHRH
antagonists, reduces their stimulatory effect on GH secretion [12].
An increased release of GHRH in portal blood of the pituitary after
Accepted
Published January
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Exclusion criteria
-Persons with a known history of primary hyperlipidemia, diabetes
or secondary obesity.
-Patients receiving medication that could affect the metabolic
profile (e.g., beta blocker, steroids and diuretics).
- Menopausal women.
refrigerator after gentle mix for assay of Hb A1c. The other 5.2 ml were
collected in plain tube, incubated for 20 minutes, then centrifuged
at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes .Serum was separated in another clean
tube and stored at -20 till the assay time. Fasting and two hours post
prandial blood glucose was measured according to glucose-oxidase
method [16]. Glycated hamoglobin A1C was measured using a column
chromatography method by commercial kit provided from Biosystem
Company. After final elution the result was determined photometrically
using Biosystem photometer (Reference range 5.1-6.4%). Serum
triglycerides (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein
(HDL cholesterol).were measured photo metrically using commercial
kit provided from Spinreact, and LDL was calculated by the equation
(LDL=cholesterol - triglycerides/5 HDL).
Insulin level: was estimated according to Angel (1988) [17] using
a commercially available ELISA kit which was modified for use in
microtiter plates. The adapted assay, is based on the binding of porcine
anti-guinea pig insulin antibodies to microtiter plates and uses insulinperoxidase conjugate as displacer.
Serum ghrelin level: was measured by a commercially available
ELISA kit (The DSL- 10-33700) Human Ghrelin ELISA Kit; Diagnostic
System laboratories, Webster, Texas). This assay is an enzymatically
amplified one-step sandwich-type irnmunoassay. In the assay,
standards, controls and unknown plasma samples are incubated with
antighrelin antibody in microtitration wells which have been coated
with another anti-Ghrelin monoclonal antibody. After incubation and
washing, the wells are incubated with the substrate tetramethylbenzidine
(TMB), an acidic stopping solution is then added and the degree of
enzymatic turnover of the substrate is determined by dual wavelength
absorbance measurement at 450 and 620 nm. The absorbance measured
is directly proportional to the concentration of total Ghrelin present.
A set of total Ghrelin standards is used to plot a standard curve of
absorbance versus total Ghrelin concentration from which the total
Ghrelin concentrations in the samples were calculated [18].
Serum leptin level: was measured by a commercially available
ELISA kit (The DSL- 10-23100 Human Leptin ELISA Kit; Diagnostic
System laboratories, Webster, Texas). This assay is a direct Sandwich
ELISA based, sequentially, on capture of human leptin molecules from
samples to the wells of a microtiter plate coated by pre-titered amount
of polyclonal rabbit anti-human leptin antibodies, and wash away of
unbound materials from samples, then, binding of a biotinylated
monoclonal antibody to the captured human leptin, and conjugation of
alkaline phosphatase to biotinyiated antibodies, after that, wash away of
free antibody-enzyme conjugates.
Finally, quantification of immobilized antibody-enzyme conjugates
by monitoring alkaline phosphatase activities in the presence of the
substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The enzyme activity is measured
spectrophotometrically by the increased absorbency at 405 nm due
to production of the yellow colored product p-nitrophenol. Since
the increase in absorbency is directly proportional to the amount of
captured human leptin in the unknown sample, the latter can be
derived by interpolation from a reference curve generated in the same
assay with reference standards of known concentrations of human
leptin [19].
Homeostasis model assessment: HOMA is an arithmetic way
of deriving indices of pancreatic endocrine function HOMA- and
HOMA-IR from fasting plasma samples [20]. This model assumes
that plasma glucose and insulin in the fasting state is controlled by a
feedback loop between the pancreas, liver, and insulin-sensitive and
insulin-insensitive peripheral tissues. HOMA correlates well with and
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Insulin (mU/mL)
Leptin (ng/mL)
Ghrelin ( pg/ml)
Statistical Analysis
Results
Table 1 showed basic clinical data of the studied groups, patients
with metabolic syndrome were significantly more obese than others.
There is no significant difference between studied groups as regard
age and gender. WC, BMI, SBP and DBP were significantly increased
Control group
n = 15
M
SD
Obese group
n = 30
M
SD
MS Group
n = 20
M
SD
Age (year)
Sex M/F
NS
BMI (kg/m2)
2.2
WC (cm)
SBP
DBP
SD
Obese group
n = 30
M
SD
FBG (mg/dl)
11.3
PP BG (mg/dl)
13.3
MS Group
n = 20
M
SD
HbA 1c (%)
HOMA-IR
Cholesterol
(mg/dl)
TG (mg/dl)
33.1
22.3
LDL - C (mg/dl)
HDL - C (mg/dl)
SD
SD
22.1
3.3
SD
MS Group
n = 20
WC
SBP
DBP
Table 4: Correlation between Ghrelin and leptin with clinical data of obese and
MS group.
FBG
Ghrelin
Leptin
PPBG
HOMA-S
HOMA-B
HbA1c
Table 5: Correlation between Ghrelin and leptin with blood glucose and HOMA-S
and HOMA-B in obese and metabolic syndrome group.
Triglyceride
Ghrelin
Leptin
Cholesterol
HDL C
LDL C
Table 6:
metabolic syndrome group.
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Ghrelin
Leptin
Insulin
Leptin
-------
Table 7: Correlation between Ghrelin and leptin with insulin in obese and metabolic
syndrome group
Discussion
Obesity is generally recognized as an increasingly important cause
of morbidity worldwide and contribute to chronic diseases such as
T2DM and CHD [1]. MetS a clustering of obesity, impaired glucose
metabolism, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, has been shown to be
predictive for the development of diabetes and CHD in this young
population, particularly in the overweight or obese [5]. In the present
study, there were significant increases in BMI, WC, SBP, DBP, FBS, PP
BS and HbA1c in obese and Mets groups compared to control group.
This in agreement with Yoon et al. [22], who found that MetS was
positively associated with body weight, waist circumference, blood
pressure and blood glucose levels.
HOMA-IR, is increased in obese and MetS groups with a significant
difference only between control and MetS groups (p=0.0073). HOMA is significantly increased in obese and MetS groups compared
to control group (p=0.002) with no significant difference between
obese and MetS group. Garg et al. [23] found that subjects with MetS
had more insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and less insulin secretion
(HOMA-) than healthy controls. Yoon et al. [22] who found that MetS
was positively associated with the HOMA-IR. As regards lipid profile,
there was a significant increase in serum triglyceride, cholesterol and
LDL cholesterol in obese and MS groups compared to control group
with a significant difference between obese and MS groups with respect
to serum cholesterol and triglyceride. There was a significant decrease
in HDL cholesterol in obese and MetS groups (p<0.0001) compared to
control group with no significant difference between obese and MetS
group. This in agreement with Yoon et al. [22] who found that MetS
was positively associated with TC, TG and negatively associated with
the HDL-cholesterol level. The degree of correlation between the MetS
score and TG level was highest, followed by that with HDL cholesterol.
Our study revealed significant increase in serum Insulin and
Leptin hormones concentrations in obese and MetS groups compared
to control group. More evidence emerges that insulin can regulate
Leptin expression. This is most evident from studies on isolated
adipocytes, which showed that in vitro insulin clearly stimulates the
mRNA expression and secretion of Leptin in cultured rat and human
adipocytes. Another possibility, glucose metabolism seems to be an
important determinant of Leptin expression and secretion. In human
experiments, hyperinsulinaemia induced by clamp techniques leads
to a rise in leptin concentrations [24]. One report on a patient with
insulinoma reported markedly elevated leptin levels during chronic high
insulinaemia, which both dropped after surgical removal [25]. High
Page 5 of 6
11.
Neuroendocrine and peripheral activities of ghrelin: implications in metabolism
12.
Ghrelin on growth hormone secretion from cultured adenohypophysial cells in
13.
hormone (GH)-releasing hormone secretion is stimulated by a new GH-
21.
Homeostasis model assessment closely mirrors the glucose clamp technique
in the assessment of insulin sensitivity: studies in subjects with various degrees
Acknowledgment
The authors are grateful to the staff of the Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit,
Internal Medicine Department, Tanta Faculty of Medicine, Egypt.
22.
between metabolic syndrome score and severity of coronary atherosclerosis as
assessed by angiography in a non-diabetic and diabetic Korean population. J
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Special features: