Counteractive effects of omentin-1 against atherogenesis†.

Aims: Omentin-1, a novel adipocytokine expressed in visceral fat tissue, is negatively correlated with obesity, insulin resistance, and stable coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there have been no previous reports regarding the effects of omentin-1 on atherogenesis.

Methods And Results: This study was performed to evaluate the atheroprotective effects of omentin-1 on human monocyte-derived macrophages, human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in vitro, and aortic lesions in Apoe(-/-) mice in vivo.

Stimulatory effects of cardiotrophin 1 on atherosclerosis.

Cardiotrophin 1 (CT-1), an interleukin-6 family cytokine, was recently shown to be expressed in the intima of early atherosclerotic lesions in the human carotid artery. CT-1 stimulates proatherogenic molecule expression in human vascular endothelial cells and monocyte migration. However, it has not been reported whether CT-1 accelerates atherosclerosis.

High ratios of free to total insulin-like growth factor-I in early infancy.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a major effector of somatic growth and metabolism. In normal, nonpregnant plasma, most of the IGF-I is complexed to specific IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), particularly IGFBP-3; only a minor fraction of plasma IGF-I exists in a free form. Recently, we have reported that free IGF-I levels, as measured using a new immunoradiometric assay, are relatively high in maternal plasma during pregnancy because of increased IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity.

Clinical information on serum IGFBP-3 levels and IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity in childhood.

In this review paper, three pieces of clinical information in childhood are presented: (1) IGFBP-3 may replace GH provocation tests in the diagnosis of GH deficiency (GHD); (2) IGFBP-3 levels are regulated by IGF-I levels in a short period, and (3) ratio of free IGF-I to total IGF-I is high in serum of early infancy, similarly to serum of pregnancy, only partially owing to the presence of IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity. Each paper will be published soon.