Serum levels of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP) are increased in chronic haemodialysis (CD)

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) Vol. 69; no. 6; pp. 901 - 905
• Main Authors: Sommer, Grit, Ziegelmeier, Michaela, Bachmann, Anette, Kralisch, Susan, Lossner, Ulrike, Kratzsch, Jürgen, Blüher, Matthias, Stumvoll, Michael, Fasshauer, Mathias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2008; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adipocytes - metabolism; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Emergency and intensive care: renal failure. Dialysis management; Endocrinopathies; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins - blood; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Kidney Failure, Chronic - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Regression Analysis; Renal Dialysis; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Extrarenal dialysis; Adipocyte; Binding protein; Chronic; Hemodialysis; Clinical biology; Lipids; Fatty acids; Endocrinology
• ISSN: 0300-0664; 1365-2265
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2008.03277.x

Summary Objective  Adipocyte fatty acid‐binding protein (AFABP) was recently introduced as an adipocyte‐expressed factor, serum levels of which independently correlate with the development of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in humans. In the current study, we investigated renal elimination of this protein by comparing circulating AFABP levels in patients on chronic haemodialysis (CD) with controls. We hypothesized that if renal filtration is a significant route of elimination of AFABP, it would accumulate in CD patients. Patients and measurements  AFABP was determined by ELISA in control (n = 60) and CD (n = 60) patients and correlated to clinical and biochemical measures of renal function, glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation, in both groups. Results  Median serum AFABP levels were more than 10‐fold higher in CD patients (510·9 ± 294·7 µg/l) as compared to controls (44·3 ± 35·2 µg/l). Furthermore, CD independently predicted AFABP concentrations in multiple regression analysis. In addition, body mass index and free fatty acids were independently associated with circulating AFABP. Conclusions  Renal filtration appears as an important route of elimination of AFABP. Future studies should elucidate whether this adipocyte‐expressed factor contributes to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease found in end‐stage renal disease.