Summary

Asprosin is a fasting-induced adipokine derived from cleaved fibrillin-1 precursors. Circulating asprosin promotes hepatic glucose release and stimulates appetite via hypothalamic pathways. Aberrant elevation of asprosin has been implicated in insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity-associated inflammation. Mechanistic studies indicate that asprosin influences adipocyte differentiation, thermogenic browning of white adipose depots and pro-inflammatory crosstalk between adipocytes and macrophages. Interventions such as metformin administration and structured exercise regimens have been shown to reduce asprosin secretion and ameliorate metabolic disturbances. Given its dual central and peripheral actions, asprosin emerges both as a biomarker of metabolic dysregulation and a potential target for therapies designed to restore energy homeostasis and improve glycaemic control.

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Asprosin Dynamics in Metabolic Disorders publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in asprosin dynamics in metabolic disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Adipokine: A signalling protein secreted by adipose tissue that modulates metabolic and inflammatory pathways.

Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR): An index calculated from fasting insulin and glucose levels to estimate insulin sensitivity.

Fibrillin-1 (FBN1): An extracellular matrix glycoprotein whose proteolytic cleavage releases asprosin.

Browning: The process by which white adipocytes acquire thermogenic features, including increased mitochondrial content and uncoupling protein activity.

Oxidative stress: A disturbance in the balance between production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defences, leading to cellular damage.

References

  1. Metformin's impact on asprosin and FBN1 expression: Potential mechanisms beyond insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes in rats. Current Research in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery (2024).
  2. Asprosin Enhances Cytokine Production by a Co-Culture of Fully Differentiated Mature Adipocytes and Macrophages Leading to the Exacerbation of the Condition Typical of Obesity-Related Inflammation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
  3. Oxidative Stress and Asprosin Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Good and Poor Glycemic Control. Biomolecules (2024).
  4. Asprosin in health and disease, a new glucose sensor with central and peripheral metabolic effects. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023).
  5. Aerobic Exercise Training Decreases Hepatic Asprosin in Diabetic Rats. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2019).
  6. Novel adipokine asprosin modulates browning and adipogenesis in white adipose tissue. Journal of Endocrinology (2021).

About these summaries

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