Serum Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Nitric Oxide Levels in Obese Postmenopausal Women

WOS: 000291110400005PubMed ID: 21567464Background: It has been reported that estrogen deficiency after menopause might cause a decrement in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability by increasing the level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a major endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, thus leading to abnormalities in endothelial function. Because NO plays an important role on feeding behavior, ADMA may be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity, too. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the relations of ADMA and NO with the obesity-linked peptides, such as ghrelin, leptin, and adiponectin in postmenopausal women free of hormone replacement therapy. Methods: Adiponectin, ghrelin, leptin, ADMA, and NO(x) (total nitrite/nitrate) were measured in 22 obese (BMI: 30-47 kg/m(2)) and 19 normal weight (BMI: 21.5-26 kg/m(2)) postmenopausal women. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, waist, and hip circumferences) were recorded. Statistics were made by the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: Ghrelin and adiponectin levels were significantly lower (P<0.001), whereas ADMA and leptin levels were higher in obese women than in normal weight controls (P<0.01 and 0.001, respectively). BMI was correlated negatively with adiponectin and ghrelin and positively with ADMA and leptin levels. No correlation existed between ADMA and NO. Conclusion: Estrogen deficiency alone may not cause an increase in ADMA levels unless the women are prone to disturbances in energy homeostasis. In spite of the high ADMA levels, the unaltered NO levels in plasma may be owing to ongoing inflammatory conditions. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 25:174-178, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Istanbul University [UDP-1771/23112007, BYP-881/06012006]Grant sponsor: Istanbul University; Grant numbers: UDP-1771/23112007; BYP-881/06012006

Ligand binding and activation of the CGRP receptor

İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi.Objective: Malnutrition and loss of appetite remain a frequent problem in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). These patients have inflammation accompanied by high levels of plasma leptin, an appetite-modulating hormone. A newly described hormone ghrelin is also involved in regulation food intake and energy balance. In patients with end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis, high plasma ghrelin concentration has been reported, but the metabolic impact of ghrelin in CKD is unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the changes in circulating levels of ghrelin, obestatin, leptin, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) at different stages of CKD

Appetite-regulating Hormones in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

WOS: 000291719600007PubMed ID: 21193324Objective: Inflammation and loss of appetite is the most common problem in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the changes in circulating levels of ghrelin, obestatin, leptin, all of which have an effect on food intake, and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with CKD who were undergoing different treatments. Design and Setting: Study participants included 36 patients who had undergone hemodialysis (body mass index [BMI]: 22.3 +/- 4.17 kg/m(2)); 41 who had undergone peritoneal dialysis (BMI: 23.5 +/- 3.10 kg/m(2)), 30 with early stage CKD (BMI: 24.4 +/- 3.32 kg/m(2)), and 31 healthy subjects (24.3 +/- 2.14 kg/m(2)). The patients with CKD were kept under a standard diet with restricted salt, potassium, and protein intake. Intervention: Levels of leptin, acylated ghrelin, obestatin, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 were measured by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Total nitrite/nitrate was analyzed using colorimetric assay kit. Results: Significantly high leptin levels, accompanied by low acylated ghrelin levels, were observed in patients with CKD. Maintenance dialysis did not affect these levels. TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in CKD patients than in healthy subjects, the highest being in dialysis patients. Obestatin levels were relatively low in patients who had undergone hemodialysis. Conclusion: Low acyl-ghrelin levels, accompanied with high levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 may be involved in the loss of appetite and poor nutritional status in CKD patients. (C) 2011 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.Istanbul University [508/05052006, BYP-1789]This work was supported by the Research Fund of Istanbul University; project numbers 508/05052006 and BYP-1789

Dimethylarginines and inflammation markers in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis

The aim of this study was to investigate the pro-oxidant and proinflammatory biomarkers and their relationship with dimethylarginines (DMAs) in patients at various stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied 114 CKD patients, 36 were hemodialyzed, 41 peritoneal dialyzed and 37 nondialyzed (early stage) CKD patients. The control group consisted of 31 healthy subjects. Plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), l-arginine, nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) were determined, and their relationships with the degree of disease were evaluated. Both DMAs were at high levels in all CKD patients, whereas arginine concentrations were low in patients undergoing dialysis. Elevated TNF-alpha and IL-6 in CKD patients were indicative of ongoing chronic inflammatory state. A significant positive correlation between SDMA and creatinine suggests that plasma SDMA level may be an index for renal function