Chemerin expression and regulation in humans

Adipose tissue secrete various proteins and hormones called adipokines. Changes in the secretion of these adipokines is now thought to play a major role in the development of obesity-related  diseases. One such hormone is chemerin that is now believed to be associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. However the expression patterns and physiology of chemerin is yet to be fully elucidated in humans.

Chamberland et al used a human mRNA tissue array to evaluate the expression pattern of chemerin and its receptor in human tissues. They also analysed hourly serum samples from six females in the fed state in order to determine  any day/night variation. To examine whether energy deprivation affects chemerin levels, and whether this could be mediated through leptin, they analyzed samples from the same subjects in the fasting state while administering either placebo or leptin. To evaluate for any potential dose–effect relationship between leptin and chemerin, they administered increasing metreleptin doses to five females. Ex vivo treatment of human fat explants from three subjects with leptin was carried out to evaluate for any direct effect of leptin on adipocyte chemerin secretion.

Chamberland et al. outline for the first time chemerin expression and physiology in humans and find that it is different from rodents. They found that chemerin was expressed mainly in the pancreas and liver and the chemerin receptor showed increased expression in the lymph nodes and the spleen. They did not find any day/night variation and energy deprivation resulted in a significant drop in circulating chemerin levels. Leptin administration did not affect chemerin secretion by human adipose tissues.

Read the full article at Mantzoros et al (2013) European Journal of Endocrinology 169; 453-462; DOI:10.1530/EJE-13-0098