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Association between circulating follistatin‐like‐1 and metabolic syndrome in middle‐aged and old population: A cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Yang Shan,
Dai Han,
Hu Wenjing,
Geng Shan,
Li Ling,
Li Xinrun,
Liu Hua,
Liu Dongfang,
Li Ke,
Yang Gangyi,
Yang Mengliu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/dmrr.3373
Subject(s) - metabolic syndrome , medicine , endocrinology , insulin resistance , biology , obesity , bioinformatics
Aim Follistatin‐like‐1 (FSTL‐1) is considered to be a novel cytokine, and it is associated with metabolic diseases. However, it is necessary to investigate further the association of FSTL‐1 with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance (IR). We performed a cross‐sectional study to investigate the associated of circulating FSTL‐1 with the MetS. Materials and methods A cross‐sectional study was performed in 487 Chinese people, including 231 control subjects and 256 patients with MetS. Bioinformatics analysis was used to determine the protein and pathways associated with FSTL‐1. The protein and protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and analysed. Serum FSTL‐1 concentrations were determined by an ELISA assay. The association of FSTL‐1 with MetS components and IR was assessed. Results Serum FSTL‐1 levels were markedly higher in patients with newly diagnosed MetS than in controls (7.5 [5.6‐9.2] vs 5.8 [5.0‐7.7] μg/L, P < .01). According to bioinformatics analysis, the top high‐degree genes were identified as the core genes, including SPARCL1, CYR61, LTBP1, IL‐6, BMP2, BMP4, FBN1, FN1 CHRDL1 and FSTL‐3. These genes are mainly enriched in pathways including TGF‐ß, AGE‐RAGE signalling pathway in diabetic complications, and Hippo signalling pathways; in basal cell carcinoma, cytokine‐cytokine receptor interaction and in amoebic and Yersinia infections. Furthermore, serum FSTL‐1 levels were positively associated with fasting plasma glucose (FPG), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, triglyceride levels and visceral adiposity index (VAI). We found that serum FSTL‐1 levels were markedly associated with MetS and IR by binary logistic regression analysis. Conclusions We conclude that FSTL‐1 may be a novel cytokine related to MetS and IR.