Chemerin Modulation in Metabolic Disorders
Summary
Chemerin is an adipokine predominantly secreted by adipose tissue and the liver, circulating as an inactive precursor that undergoes proteolytic processing to yield bioactive isoforms. It engages chiefly with the G protein-coupled receptor CMKLR1 (also known as ChemR23), modulating pathways of inflammation, adipogenesis, glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Elevated chemerin levels are consistently associated with obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and low-grade inflammation, underlining its role as both a biomarker and a potential driver of metabolic syndrome. Mechanistically, chemerin influences adipocyte differentiation, macrophage recruitment into adipose depots and hepatic lipid handling, while also affecting pancreatic islet function. Therapeutic modulation of chemerin signalling offers promise for ameliorating metabolic derangements, reducing cardiovascular risk and restoring energy balance on a global scale.
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Chemerin Modulation in Metabolic Disorders publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in chemerin modulation in metabolic disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adipokine: A protein secreted by adipose tissue that exerts hormone-like effects on metabolism and inflammation.
Chemerin: A precursor protein released by adipocytes and hepatocytes, activated by proteolytic cleavage to regulate immune cell trafficking and metabolic processes.
CMKLR1 (ChemR23): A G protein-coupled receptor for chemerin, mediating chemotactic, inflammatory and metabolic signalling cascades.
Proteolytic processing: The enzymatic cleavage of a pro-protein to generate its active, functional form.
References
- Statins, but not proprotein convertase subtilisin‐kexin type 9 inhibitors, lower chemerin in hypercholesterolemia via low‐density lipoprotein receptor upregulation. MedComm (2024).
- Structural basis of G protein–Coupled receptor CMKLR1 activation and signaling induced by a chemerin-derived agonist. PLOS Biology (2023).
- Chemerin: a multifaceted adipokine involved in metabolic disorders. Journal of Endocrinology (2018).
- Chemerin Isoforms and Activity in Obesity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019).
- Signaling Properties of Chemerin Receptors CMKLR1, GPR1 and CCRL2. PLOS ONE (2016).
- Chemerin, a Novel Adipokine That Regulates Adipogenesis and Adipocyte Metabolism*. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2007).
- Association between Serum Chemerin Concentrations and Clinical Indices in Obesity or Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE (2014).
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