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Obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) is known to influence hepatic cytokines (hepatokines), including fibroblast growth factor (FGF-21), fetuin-A, and chemerin. This study aimed to investigate the association between hepatokines and markers of endothelial dysfunction and vascular reactivity in obese adolescents. A total of 45 obese adolescents were categorized into three groups based on glucose tolerance: normal glucose tolerance (NGT), prediabetes (PD), and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We examined the relationships between FGF-21, fetuin-A, and chemerin with endothelial markers (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1], intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], and vascular cell adhesion marker-1 [VCAM-1]) and vascular surrogates (brachial artery reactivity testing [BART] and peak reactive hyperemia [PRH]). Obese adolescents (age 16.2±1.2 years; 62 % female, 65 % Hispanic) with NGT (n=20), PD (n=14), and T2D (n=11) had significant differences between groups in BMI; waist-hip ratio (p=0.05), systolic BP (p=0.008), LDL-C (p=0.02), PAI-1 (p<0.001). FGF-21 pg/mL (mean±SD: NGT vs. PD vs. T2D 54±42; 266±286; 160±126 p=0.006) and fetuin-A ng/mL (266±80; 253±66; 313±50 p=0.018), were significantly different while chemerin ng/mL (26±5; 31±10; 28±2) did not significantly differ between the groups. Positive correlations were found between chemerin and both PAI-1 (r=0.6; p=0.05) and ICAM-1 (r=0.6; p=0.05), FGF-21 and PAI-1 (r=0.6; p<0.001), and fetuin-A with TNFα (r=−0.4; p=0.05). Negative correlations were found between chemerin and PRH (r= −0.5; p=0.017) and fetuin-A and PRH (r=−0.4; p=0.05). In our cohort, IR predicted higher FGF-21 levels suggesting a linear relationship may exist between the two parameters. Hepatokines can augment alterations in the microvascular milieu in obese adolescents as demonstrated by their associations with the markers PAI-1, ICAM-1, and PRH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of liver biopsy specimens showed that SARS-CoV-2 might have led to liver damage. This study aimed to evaluate the role of selected hepatokines and myokines in the development and progression of COVID-19. Seventy patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Irisin, pentraxin 3, fetuin-A, and FGF-21 serum concentrations and biochemical parameters were assessed using an immunoenzymatic method with commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Serum fetuin-A concentrations were significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy volunteers. The serum concentration of FGF-21 was significantly increased in obese COVID-19 patients compared to overweight ones. Moreover, the FGF-21 level was higher in COVID-19 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome than in patients without metabolic syndrome. PTX3 concentration was higher in COVID-19 patients with higher HOMA-IR values than those with lower HOMA-IR values. COVID-19 patients with HOMA-IR ≤ 3 and >3 had significantly lower fetuin-A levels than the control group. Irisin concentration was significantly decreased in the HOMA-IR ≤ 3 COVID-19 subgroup when comparing with the control group. Lower levels of fetuin-A observed in COVID-19 patients despite higher HOMA-IR, CRP, and ferritin levels, pneumonia, patients requiring ICU care suggests that fetuin-A deficiency predisposes to more severe COVID-19 course. Upregulated pentraxin 3 may be used as a potential predictor of COVID-19 severity.

Analysis of liver biopsy specimens showed that SARS-CoV-2 might have led to liver damage. This study aimed to evaluate the role of selected hepatokines and myokines in the development and progression of COVID-19. Seventy patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Irisin, pentraxin 3, fetuin-A, and FGF-21 serum concentrations and biochemical parameters were assessed using an immunoenzymatic method with commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Serum fetuin-A concentrations were significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy volunteers. The serum concentration of FGF-21 was significantly increased in obese COVID-19 patients compared to overweight ones. Moreover, the FGF-21 level was higher in COVID-19 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome than in patients without metabolic syndrome. PTX3 concentration was higher in COVID-19 patients with higher HOMA-IR values than those with lower HOMA-IR values. COVID-19 patients with HOMA-IR ≤ 3 and >3 had significantly lower fetuin-A levels than the control group. Irisin concentration was significantly decreased in the HOMA-IR ≤ 3 COVID-19 subgroup when comparing with the control group. Lower levels of fetuin-A observed in COVID-19 patients despite higher HOMA-IR, CRP, and ferritin levels, pneumonia, patients requiring ICU care suggests that fetuin-A deficiency predisposes to more severe COVID-19 course. Upregulated pentraxin 3 may be used as a potential predictor of COVID-19 severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]