Background
Proglucagon-derived
hormones represent a family of
peptides mainly produced in the pancreas and the intestine. While several
proglucagon-derived
peptides play key roles in
metabolic diseases, little is known about
glicentin. The aim of the present study was to investigate serum
glicentin concentrations in individuals with adult
obesity and to study its potential link with various metabolic parameters. Methods Fifty-two individuals with normal body mass index (BMI < 25 kg/m2) and 39 patients with severe or
morbid obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m2) were prospectively included at the University Hospital of Nice between January 2014 and April 2016. Clinical data were recorded, and a fasting blood sample was collected to measure
glicentin,
glucose,
insulin,
C-peptide, total
cholesterol,
triglyceride,
LDL and
HDL-cholesterol. In addition, a homeostasis model assessment for
insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) was also calculated. Results Patients with severe and
morbid obesity had significantly higher plasma
glucose, together with higher serum concentrations of
insulin,
C-peptide, HOMA2-IR,
triglyceride,
LDL-cholesterol and lower serum concentrations of
HDL-cholesterol compared with individuals with a normal body mass index. The obese patients displayed significantly lower fasting serum concentrations of
glicentin compared with subjects with a normal body mass index (12 pmol/L vs. 24 pmol/L, P < 0.0001). In the total population, fasting
glicentin concentrations did not correlate with BMI, glycaemic parameters (
glucose,
insulin,
C-peptide, HOMA-IR) or
lipid parameters (total
cholesterol,
triglyceride,
LDL and
HDL-cholesterol). Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting serum
glicentin concentrations in healthy lean and obese adult subjects. We found that fasting serum
glicentin concentrations are decreased in patients with severe or
morbid obesity suggesting the potential interest of this
peptide in
obesity and metabolic-related disorders.