Keyword: assay

An exploratory study on microarray technology-based biomarkers in post-menopausal women with obesity: focus on blood levels of adipsin, adiponectin and agouti-related peptide

Background. A novel framework to assess obesity and its complications involves the evaluation of fat-derived factors as potential biomarkers of the cardio-metabolic outcome and long-term management. In this exploratory study, we aimed to evaluate microarray-based circulating levels of adiponectin, adipsin, and AgRP in menopausal women with obesity. Methods. This is a pilot, bi-centric study according to a protocol based on Quantibody® Human Obesity Array 3 (RayBiotech, Norcross, GA, USA). Patients with obesity-associated complications (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia) were excluded. Results. In the study population (N = 24, median age of 60 years) adiponectin correlated with lipocalin-2 (r = 0.943, p = 0.0048) and plasminogen activation inhibitor-1 (r = 0.829, p = 0.0416). Adipsin correlated with inteleukin-8 (r = 0.786, p = 0.0362), and leptin (r = 0.832, p = 0.0008). Conclusion. Apparently healthy obese menopausal individuals present a landscape of circulating adipokines that might be placed in relationship with the inflammatory and coagulation panel, across a complex inter-play. In addition, agouti-related peptide, despite being a well- known central orexigenic factor, might serve as circulating biomarker, too, noting its correlations with interleukin-6 and glycaemia at 120 minute during oral glucose tolerance test.