Omentin Dynamics in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health
Summary
Omentin is a protein secreted chiefly by visceral fat that has emerged as a key regulator of systemic metabolism and vascular function. Two closely related forms, omentin-1 and omentin-2, are produced by specialised cells within adipose depots, including the epicardial and stromal vascular fractions of white adipose tissue. In metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, circulating levels of omentin-1 fall in association with worsening insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and low-grade inflammation. Conversely, weight loss interventions and insulin-sensitising treatments boost omentin concentrations, highlighting its dynamic response to energy balance and glycaemic control. Beyond metabolic actions, omentin exerts protective effects on the cardiovascular system by dampening inflammatory signalling, enhancing endothelial survival and stimulating nitric oxide production, thereby limiting atherosclerotic progression and promoting vascular repair. Altered omentin expression in epicardial fat has been linked with coronary plaque burden and adverse outcomes in heart failure, underlining its potential as both a biomarker and a therapeutic target. Together, these findings underscore the global significance of omentin dynamics across the spectrum of metabolic and cardiovascular health.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have mapped omentin’s expression in the anterior pituitary of domestic pigs, revealing cyclical fluctuations over the oestrous cycle and marked differences between breeds with divergent fat distribution. The work demonstrates that gonadotropin-releasing hormone and pituitary hormones directly regulate omentin-1 protein levels within pituitary cells, suggesting a novel feedback loop between central endocrine control and peripheral adipokine release. These insights broaden the physiological context of omentin beyond adipose tissue, implying potential cross-talk between reproductive and metabolic axes that may inform future investigations into human endocrine and cardiovascular disorders.
Omentin Dynamics in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in omentin dynamics in metabolic and cardiovascular health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adipokine: A hormone-like protein secreted by fat cells that influences energy balance and inflammation.
Insulin sensitivity: The efficiency with which cells respond to insulin to absorb glucose.
Atheroprotection: Mechanisms that prevent the development of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels.
Epicardial adipose tissue: Fat depot surrounding the heart that can influence coronary artery health.
Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR): A calculated index used to estimate insulin resistance from fasting glucose and insulin levels.
References
- Circulating omentin concentration increases after weight loss. Nutrition & Metabolism (2010).
- Fat-derived Factor Omentin Stimulates Endothelial Cell Function and Ischemia-induced Revascularization via Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase-dependent Mechanism*. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2011).
- Omentin: A Key Player in Glucose Homeostasis, Atheroprotection, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential for Cardiovascular Health in Obesity and Diabetes. Biomedicines (2024).
- Association between omentin-1 expression in human epicardial adipose tissue and coronary atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular Diabetology (2016).
- Impact of serum omentin-1 levels on cardiac prognosis in patients with heart failure. Cardiovascular Diabetology (2014).
- Plasma level of omentin-1, its expression, and its regulation by gonadotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropins in porcine anterior pituitary cells. Scientific Reports (2023).
- The Interplay of Lifestyle and Adipokines in the Non-Obese Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Antioxidants (2023).
- Comparative Effects of Gymnema sylvestre and Berberine on Adipokines, Body Composition, and Metabolic Parameters in Obese Patients: A Randomized Study. Nutrients (2024).
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