Vaspin and omentin: new adipokines differentially regulated at the site of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

Scientific interest in adipose tissue-derived peptides has increased dramatically in recent years (1). Several mediators known as adipo(cyto)kines were first associated with the pathophysiology of obesity-related complications; however a significant role for adipokines such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin in regulating immune responses and inflammation has recently been discovered (1, 2). Several reports (3-6) have already demonstrated association of these adipokines with the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Vaspin, a member of the serine protease inhibitor family, and omentin (also known as intelectin) were recently identified in adipose tissue (7, 8). Vaspin is an adipokine with insulin-sensitizing effects that has been suggested to be a compensatory mediator for abrogating obesity and its inflammatory complications (7). Expression of the omentin gene was demonstrated in omental adipose tissue of patients with Crohn's disease, suggesting that it may be implicated in chronic inflammatory diseases (8). The aim of the present report was to compare local concentrations of vaspin and omentin in synovial fluid of RA patients with those in osteoarthritis (OA) patients and to characterize their potential association with the severity of the disease. Synovial fluid was obtained during therapeutic arthrocentesis from 33 patients with RA and 33 patients with knee OA. The disease activity of RA patients was assessed by DAS28. C-reactive protein (CRP), IgM-rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) were routinely analyzed from peripheral blood obtained at the time of arthrocentesis. Characteristics of the patients are given in Table 1. Vaspin (AdipoGen Inc. Korea) and omentin (Apotech Corporation) were analyzed in synovial fluid by ELISA assays. Ethical approval was obtained from the local Ethics Committee and all patients provided informed consent. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. To meet a