Serum Apelin-12 as a Novel Marker of Metabolic Inflammatory Syndrome in elderly Chinese: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Apelin-12 has been proposed as a novel adipocytokine with vital roles in metabolic disorders. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between serum apelin-12 and metabolic inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in the elderly. Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 224 subjects aged over 60. According to their diagnoses of the four components of MIS (type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and obesity/overweight), they were divided into two groups: the control group (0 or 1 component n=63) and the MIS group (≥2 components, n=161). Serum levels of apelin-12, adiponectin and C-reactive protein were measured by ELISA. Results: Serum apelin-12 was significantly higher in the MIS group than in the control group (1.83 ng/mL (1.59-2.07) vs 1.66 ng/mL (1.45-1.92), P=0.001). Partial correlation analysis showed that apelin-12 levels were positively correlated with fasting insulin (ra=0.169), HOMA-IR (ra=0.183), ALT (ra=0.180), AST (ra=0.145) and CRP (ra=0.140, all Pa<0.05) and negatively associated with adiponectin (ra=-0.211) and HDL-C (ra=-0.156) after controlling age, sex and body mass index. Besides, after adjustment for age, sex, fasting blood glucose, diastolic blood pressure and total triglyceride, apelin-12 was still determined as an independent predictor for MIS. Conclusion: Serum apelin-12 can be an independent risk factor predicting metabolic inflammatory syndrome and may serve as a useful potential marker for the diagnosis of MIS in elderly Chinese.