Abstract

Objective: Resistin, 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 Methods: We cross-sectionally analyzed 2078 community-dwelling Japanese subjects attending a yearly medical check-up. The SNP-420 genotype was determined by Taqman analysis. Fasting plasma resistin was measured using an ELISA kit.

Results: Plasma resistin was associated with SNP-420 genotype (P<0.0001), highest in G/G, followed by C/G and C/C. Plasma resistin was higher in elderly, females, non-drinkers, and subjects with high blood pressure (BP) (P<0.001, =0.003, <0.001, and =0.001, respectively). Simple regression analysis revealed that age, female, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), systolic BP, low HDL, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) 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, gender, and BMI, revealed that plasma resistin was an independent factor for HOMA-IR, low HDL, and hsCRP (P=0.001, <0.001, and =0.006, respectively).

>Conclusions: Plasma resistin was associated with SNP-420, and was correlated with insulin resistance, low serum HDL, and high hsCRP in the Japanese general population.