Project Details
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has linked the adipose tissue to whole-body homeostasis, in
particular systemic inflammation. Since the discovery of leptin in 1994, more than 50
biological substances have been discovered to be secreted by adipose tissue. Some of them
are termed adiopokine, which involve in an array of physiologic regulation through
endocrine, paracrine, autocrine or juxtacrine mechanisms of action. The most important
adipokines are tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, adiponectin, resistin,
visfatin, and chemerin. Several of which have been found to be major regulator of insulin
resistance and body energy conservation. Their close link with metabolic syndrome suggests
adipokines may be important biomarkers for cardiovascular risk.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gout are both associated with high risk of cardiovascular
diseases. However, the basic pathogenesis is still unknown. Adipokine, a novel cytokine as
the central regulator of inflammation, insulin resistance and lipid regulation, may be the link
between inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, its role has not yet been well
investigated.
Although several studies have been conducted to elucidate the role of adipokine in RA and
gout, many unanswered questions exist including the serum adipokine levels and comparison
with levels in normal population, correlation with disease activity and the correlation
between adipokine and cardiovascular risk assessment measures.
In this study, we hypothesize that adipokine is the link between systemic inflammation and
heightened cardiovascular risk among RA and gout patients. Therefore, we plan to
investigate serum levels of various adipokines, including leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin,
and chemerin etc., and the progression of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction, both
are prerequisites for coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke. The objectives of the
present study are to compare adipokine levels in patients with RA and gout to age and sex
compatible cohort and to identify the role of adipokine in the cardiovascular risk profile of
RA and gout.
To achieve the objectives, we plan to conduct longitudinal follow-up for RA and gout
patients’ adipokine levels and correlate with quantitative cardiovascular risk assessment
measures, such as pulse wave velocity, pulse wave contour analysis and carotid intima media
thickness, to assess the predictive power of adpipokine on the progression of cardiovascular
risk measures. We plan to enroll 360 subjects with RA, gout and normal controls with a 1:1:1
ratio. These subjects will undergo 4 times of adipokine measurement. At the same time,
atherosclerotic assessment will be conducted. Further, we will also correlate adipokine levels
with arthritis activity and the influence by anti-inflammatory medical intervention.
Project IDs
Project ID:PC10107-0359
External Project ID:NSC101-2314-B182-045
External Project ID:NSC101-2314-B182-045
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 01/08/12 → 31/07/13 |
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