Adipokines: Resistin and Systemic Rheumatic Diseases

In recent years, the universal epidemic of obesity, cause more interest in performing further researches about the biology of white adipose tissue. Adipocytes and macrophages within the adipose tissue secreted protein mediators are named as adipokines. Some adipokines such as leptin, resistin, lipokalin and interlukine-18 play an important pro-inflammatory role while adiponectin has mainly anti-inflammatory properties. Resistin as the novel adipocyte–derived peptid induced a significant insulin resistance in the liver tissue as well as contribute in physiologic besides inflammatory and autoimmune process. Serum concentration of this marker is correlated with some inflammatory processes such as Crohn disease and collagen vascular disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The roles of adipokines in modifing inflammatory processes raise an important question to answer whether inhibition of abnormal adipocytokines production in autoimmune diseases could be a potential biologic target for treatment of this disorder. This review article debates the role of adipokines, specially resistin in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.