Circulating levels of Apelin 36 in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Affecting vascular function, immune regulation, adipocyte and glucose metabolism, adipokines are essential partecipants in the pathogenesis of psoriatic comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. The aim of this study is to measure plasma levels of circulating apelin-36, a newly discovered peptide hormone acting on glucose metabolism and other adipokines in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis and in a control group.

METHODS: Serum levels of apelin-36, RBP4, Visfatin, HMW Adiponectin, CRP, fasting glucose and insulin were measured in 19 consecutive patients with mild to moderate psoriasis and 17 healthy subjects.

RESULTS: HOMA IR index was significantly increased in patients with psoriasis respect to a control group and positively correlated with BMI (p=0.009). Apelin-36 showed lower levels in the psoriatic population (p=0.016), while the remaining measured adipokines did not show any significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion we confirmed the propensity of psoriatic population to a pre diabetic condition even in mild-moderate disease; psoriasis related apelin-36 lower levels are suggestive of a low grade inflammatory state. Further studies are needed, to better understand the apelin related behaviours in different inflammatory settings.