Research Article Details
Article ID: | A14987 |
PMID: | 29138227 |
Source: | Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab |
Title: | The hepatokines fetuin-A and fetuin-B are upregulated in the state of hepatic steatosis and may differently impact on glucose homeostasis in humans. |
Abstract: | The liver is a central regulator of whole body glucose, and lipid homeostasis and hepatokines, like fetuin-A, have been identified as markers and mediators of fatty liver-induced cardiometabolic risk. The closely related protein fetuin-B was shown to be upregulated in the fatty liver and to impact on glucose homeostasis in mice. In the present study we aimed to test the relevance of these findings in humans. In 55 subjects, hepatic mRNA expression of both hepatokines, fetuin-A and fetuin-B, associated positively with liver triglyceride content, whereas only fetuin-A expression associated with the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance. In 220 subjects who underwent precise metabolic phenotyping, circulating fetuin-A, but not fetuin-B, associated positively with liver fat content, and negatively with insulin sensitivity, measured during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and during the euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp. Both circulating fetuin-A and fetuin-B correlated positively with the glucose area under the curve during the OGTT, but after additional adjustment for insulin sensitivity this relationship remained significant only for fetuin-B. In conclusion, despite the fact that the two hepatokines, fetuin-A and fetuin-B, are upregulated in the state of hepatic steatosis in humans, it appears that they differently impact on glucose homeostasis. Our data are in agreement with observations that fetuin-A can alter insulin signaling and that fetuin-B may regulate glucose homeostasis via so far unknown effects, possibly on glucose effectiveness. |
DOI: | 10.1152/ajpendo.00262.2017 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D545 | Pig placenta extract | Biological extract | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D083 | CLA | Chemical drug | DB01211 | KCNH2; SLCO1B1; SLCO1B3 | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |