The role of the novel adipokines vaspin and omentin in chronic inflammatory diseases

Obesity is a disease of epidemic proportions in many countries around the world. White adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ; therefore, its excess results in chronic and systemic inflammation. This inflammation is caused and maintained mostly by adipokines secreted by adipose tissue cells, mainly adipocytes and macrophages.

The relatively newly discovered adipokines comprise vaspin and omentin. Their concentration in the blood, tissues, or bronchial secretion varies depending on the amount of adipose tissue and other accompanying factors, including comorbidities. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the usefulness of omentin and vaspin as biomarkers in inflammatory diseases.

The Medline/PubMed database was used to search for information on obesity, inflammation, omentin, vaspin, and adipose tissue. Data from selected scientific studies, both original and review papers, are presented.

Vaspin has been found to improve insulin sensitivity mainly in white adipose tissue. Omentin has an anti-inflammatory effect and, like vaspin, sensitizes tissues to insulin. The serum concentration and tissue expression of both adipokines are different in different inflammatory diseases.

This review aims to present the biological functions of vaspin and omentin in the body and to indicate the possible use of these adipokines as disease markers in the future.