Diabetes Care 30:1501-1506, 2007 DOI: 10.2337/dc06-1936 © 2007 by the American Diabetes Association
Plasma Resistin, Associated With Single Nucleotide Polymorphism 420, Is Correlated With Insulin Resistance, Lower HDL Cholesterol, and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in the Japanese General Population
1 Department of Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan Address correspondence and reprint requests to H. Osawa, MD, PhD, Department of Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. E-mail: harosawa{at}m.ehime-u.ac.jp. Or H. Makino, MD, PhD, Department of Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. E-mail: hidemak{at}m.ehime-u.ac.jp
OBJECTIVEResistin, secreted from adipocytes, causes insulin resistance in rodents. We previously reported that the G/G genotype of a resistin gene promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at 420 increases type 2 diabetes susceptibility by enhancing promoter activity. We report here on the relation between plasma resistin and either SNP 420 genotype or factors related to insulin resistance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe cross-sectionally analyzed 2,078 community-dwelling Japanese subjects attending a yearly medical checkup. The SNP 420 genotype was determined by TaqMan analysis. Fasting plasma resistin was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTSPlasma resistin was associated with the SNP 420 genotype (P < 0.0001), which was highest in G/G followed by C/G and C/C. Plasma resistin was higher in elderly individuals, female subjects, nondrinkers, and subjects with high blood pressure (P < 0.001, 0.003, <0.001, and 0.001, respectively). Simple regression analysis revealed that age, female sex, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, systolic blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were positively correlated with plasma resistin (P < 0.001, 0.003, <0.001, 0.004, <0.001, and 0.003, respectively). Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and BMI revealed that plasma resistin was an independent factor for HOMA-IR, low HDL cholesterol, and hs-CRP (P = 0.001, <0.001, and 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONSPlasma resistin was associated with SNP 420 and was correlated with insulin resistance, low serum HDL cholesterol, and high hs-CRP in the Japanese general population.
Abbreviations: CRP, C-reactive protein CVD, cardiovascular disease FPG, fasting plasma glucose HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance hs-CRP, high-sensitivity CRP IRI, immunoreactive insulin SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism SBP, systolic blood pressure
Resistin, secreted from adipocytes of mice, antagonizes insulin action in vitro and in vivo (1,2). Serum resistin is increased in obese diabetic mice and is reduced by insulin sensitizers, peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor ligands (1,2). Overexpression of resistin gene in the liver increases serum resistin and insulin resistance (3), whereas its disruption reduces fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (4). Therefore, an elevation in serum resistin appears to cause insulin resistance in rodents, although some other studies are not in agreement with this conclusion (5). Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in insulin target tissues (6). Major genetic factors of type 2 diabetes, a probable polygenic disease, remain to be identified, whereas it has been reported that some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with type 2 diabetes (7). We recently reported that the G/G genotype of a human resistin gene (RETN) SNP at 420 (rs1862513) was associated with type 2 diabetes susceptibility (8). Of the frequent SNPs in the linkage disequilibrium area including SNP 420, only SNP 420 was significantly associated with type 2 diabetes. In vitro, Sp1/3 transcription factors specifically recognized G at 420 and enhanced resistin promoter activity. Subjects with G/G genotype had the highest serum resistin, followed by C/G and C/C (8,9). Thus, the association between SNP 420 and serum resistin in the general population merits further investigation. It remains controversial whether circulating resistin levels are associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, or adiposity in humans (917). It has been reported that resistin is increased in type 2 diabetes (9,13) and in obesity (10,12). McTernan et al. (15) and Youn et al. (17) reported that resistin is increased in type 2 diabetes but not associated with BMI, although the role of obesity was not the primary focus of the former's study. Silha et al. (16), but not Lee et al. (14), found an association between resistin and insulin resistance. No association was detected between resistin and either type 2 diabetes or obesity (14). The discrepancy among previous reports may be resolved by analyzing a larger number of samples. Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of abnormalities including central obesity, glucose intolerance or diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia (high triglyceride levels and/or low HDL cholesterol), increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (18). Because underlying insulin resistance could be fundamental for this syndrome, the relation between resistin and metabolic syndrome factors should be assessed. To determine the relation between plasma resistin and either SNP 420 or factors related to insulin resistance, we cross-sectionally analyzed 2,078 subjects. Plasma resistin was associated with SNP 420 and was correlated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lower HDL cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
All subjects were native to Japan. We analyzed community-dwelling subjects attending a yearly medical checkup in a rural town located in Ehime prefecture, Japan, in 2002. Of the 2,889 subjects who agreed to participate, 2,078, for whom overnight fasting plasma samples (>11 h) were available, were analyzed for plasma resistin levels. Because of the availability of plasma samples, immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and hs-CRP were measured in 2,017 and 1,875 subjects, respectively. Of the 2,078 subjects, 157 with A1C levels <5.6%, FPG levels <110 mg/dl, no history of diabetes, and no evidence of diabetes within first-degree relatives were used as nondiabetic control subjects in a previous study (9). There was no overlapping of samples between the present study and the other previous study (8). Of the 2,078 subjects, 151 were considered diabetic because they were being treated with antihyperglycemic agents or had FPG levels of 126 mg/dl. The association between SNP 420 and diabetes was not significant, possibly because of the lack of power using the small numbers of diabetic subjects. The plasma samples were immediately separated, frozen, and stored at 80°C. The baseline characteristics of the study subjects, such as alcohol habituation, history or symptoms of CVD, and medication, were investigated in an individual interview using a structured questionnaire. The clinical characteristics of these subjects are summarized in Table 1. All subjects were informed of the purpose of the study and their consent was obtained. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine. Definitions used are as follows: obesity, BMI 25 kg/m2; impaired glucose tolerance, FPG 110 mg/dl (6.1 mmol/l) and/or under medication of antihyperglycemic agents; high blood pressure, systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure 90 mmHg and/or under medication with antihypertensive agents; hypertriglyceridemia, triglyceride levels 150 mg/dl (1.69 mmol/l) and/or under medication with antihyperlipidemic agents; and low HDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dl (1.04 mmol/l). CVD includes stroke, myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris. Because Japanese individuals are generally leaner than Caucasians, BMI 25 kg/m2 was used as the standard cutoff value for the diagnosis of obesity (19). Waist circumference data were not available in this study. Blood pressure was measured using an automatic cuff-oscillometric device with an appropriately sized cuff on the left arm (BP-103i; Colin, Aichi, Japan) after a resting period of at least 5 min in the sitting position.
SNP typing SNP 420 was typed by TaqMan analysis (Applied Biosystems). The probes used were VIC 5'-CATGAAGACGGAGGCC-3' for 420C and FAM 5'-ATGAAGAGGGAGGCC-3' for 420G. Forward and reverse primers were 5'-CCACCTCCTGACCAGTCTCT-3' and 5'-AGCCTTCCCACTTCCAACAG-3', respectively. When required, PCR direct sequencing was performed as previously described (8,20).
Measurement of plasma resistin and hs-CRP levels
Statistical analysis
SNP 420 was associated with plasma resistin in the Japanese general population We first assessed plasma resistin based on each genotype of SNP 420 in 2,078 subjects (Fig. 1A). Fasting plasma resistin was highest in subjects with the G/G genotype, followed in order by those with C/G and those with C/C (F = 368.6, P < 0.0001, power = 0.999). This association was consistent when analyzed in either male (F = 150.6, P < 0.0001) or female (F = 221.3, P < 0.0001) subjects. When 50, 20, and 5% of the subjects were randomly selected and compared using the SPSS program, these P values were consistently low (P < 0.0001). Therefore, plasma resistin was associated with SNP 420 in this population.
We then examined the number of subjects in each 2.5 ng/ml range of plasma resistin concentration based on the SNP 420 genotype (Fig. 1B). The plasma resistin at the highest number of subjects with each genotype appears to be in the order of G/G > C/G > C/C. The range of plasma resistin was broadest in subjects with G/G, followed in order by C/G and C/C (1.952.7, 2.246.2, and 2.235.2 ng/ml, respectively), suggesting that factors other than SNP 420 genotype may affect plasma resistin. To examine isolated effects of SNP 420 on plasma resistin, a multiple regression analysis involving SNP 420, age, sex, and BMI as independent variables was used. The SNP 420 genotype including G alleles (G/G vs. C/C, P < 0.001, power = 0.999 and C/G vs. C/C, P < 0.001, power = 0.999), higher age (P < 0.001, power = 0.999), and female sex (P = 0.001, power = 0.894), but not higher BMI (P = 0.195, power = 0.254), was positively correlated with plasma resistin. The standardized coefficient (ß) of the G/G genotype compared with C/C was highest (ß = 0.480), followed by that of C/G compared with C/C (ß = 0.384) (age, ß = 0.100; female sex, ß = 0.060; and BMI, ß = 0.024). Therefore, SNP 420 genotype was the strongest determinant of plasma resistin among these factors. The contribution of this genotype to the observed total variance of resistin (R2) was 26.1%.
Plasma resistin was higher in elderly individuals, female subjects, nondrinkers, and subjects with high blood pressure
Age, female sex, SBP, low HDL cholesterol, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP were correlated with plasma resistin
Plasma resistin was correlated with HOMA-IR, low HDL cholesterol, or hs-CRP, independent of age, sex, and BMI To examine isolated effects of plasma resistin on each factor, a multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and BMI was performed (Table 3). Factors significantly associated with plasma resistin in Table 2, namely, HOMA-IR, HDL cholesterol, hs-CRP, and SBP, were individually analyzed as a dependent variable. Among these factors, only HOMA-IR, low HDL cholesterol, and hs-CRP were correlated with plasma resistin, with the caution that plasma resistin has a relatively small effect on these parameters based on the regression coefficients. Therefore, plasma resistin, associated with SNP 420, was correlated with HOMA-IR, low HDL cholesterol, and hs-CRP, independent of age, sex, and BMI.
Our cross-sectional study that included 2,078 subjects from the Japanese general population shows that plasma resistin was associated with SNP 420. Plasma resistin was higher in the elderly, female subjects, nondrinkers, and subjects with high blood pressure. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and BMI revealed that plasma resistin was an independent factor for HOMA-IR, low HDL cholesterol, and hs-CRP. We found that SNP 420 was associated with plasma resistin in the order G/G > C/G > C/C in a large number of samples. This finding provides strong evidence for a tight correlation between a functional promoter SNP and its gene product as the final output in humans. The association is also supported by studies in which smaller numbers of samples were used, namely by Cho et al. (11) and ourselves (8). Haplotypes including SNP 420 also show this similar tendency in Japanese subjects (22). A total of four independent groups reported that the activity of the mutant RETN promoter including 420G is higher than that of the wild type including 420C in vitro (8,11,22,23). Therefore, we propose that SNP 420 is a determinant of plasma resistin. Because only SNP 420 was typed in this study, the other SNPs in RETN should be analyzed to further examine this hypothesis. Our findings have shown that plasma resistin was positively associated with HOMA-IR, independent of age, sex, and BMI. To our knowledge, the positive correlation between circulating resistin and HOMA-IR in humans is supported in 2 of >10 previous studies, whereas the role of resistin as a factor inducing insulin resistance has been established in mice (16,24). The lower power with small numbers of subjects may account for this difference. The broader range of the assay used in this study could also be a contributing factor. It should be noted that serum resistin probably exists as a hexamer (major form) or trimer (a more biologically active form) in mice, which may also affect the assay results (25). The existence of multimers in human serum has recently been implicated (26). We have shown that plasma resistin was inversely associated with serum HDL cholesterol, independent of age, sex, and BMI. Resistin was reported to be associated with low HDL cholesterol in a smaller numbers of subjects (27,28). Overexpression of resistin in the liver using adenovirus in mice shows enhanced insulin resistance, low serum HDL cholesterol, and high triglyceride levels, which resembles the metabolic syndrome in humans (29). Insulin is known to upregulate lipoprotein lipase, a critical factor producing HDL cholesterol through lipoprotein metabolism. Therefore, insulin resistance caused by elevated plasma resistin could result in reduced serum HDL cholesterol. We found that plasma resistin was positively associated with hs-CRP. Shetty et al. (28) and McTernan et al. (15) reported that resistin is positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) in a cross-sectional analysis of 77 subjects having diabetes or its risk and 45 type 2 diabetic subjects, respectively. Al-Daghri et al. (30) showed that resistin is associated with CRP in subjects with type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease in the Saudi Arabian population. Reilly et al. (31) reported that plasma resistin is correlated with inflammatory markers and is predictive of coronary atherosclerosis in humans, independent of CRP. In vitro, resistin increases the expression of critical factors involved in atherosclerotic lesion, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (32,33). Resistin also enhances human aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation (34). Therefore, resistin could enhance vascular inflammation resulting in elevated serum hs-CRP, whereas an inflammatory cascade has been proposed to lead to hyperresistinemia in humans (35). In summary, SNP 420 was associated with plasma resistin in the Japanese general population. Plasma resistin was correlated with insulin resistance, lower HDL cholesterol, and high hs-CRP. It is not clear what genetic or environmental factors other than SNP 420, age, and sex affect plasma resistin and how resistin induces insulin resistance in humans. Further studies will be required to clarify these points.
This work was supported by grants for research of metabolic disorders from Ehime University, Kurozumi Medical Foundation, and Astellas Foundation and for scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan; the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan; and the Japan Arteriosclerosis Prevention Fund. We thank M. Murase, T. Nishimiya, Dr. Hashiramoto, and Dr. Takata for suggestions. We also thank C. Hiraoka, A. Murakami, and T. Takasuka for technical assistance.
Published ahead of print at http://care.diabetesjournals.org on 23 March 2007. DOI: 10.2337/dc06-1936. H.O. and Y.T. contributed equally to this work. A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact. Received for publication September 20, 2006. Accepted for publication March 10, 2007.
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