Serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (FABP-4)
concentrations are linked to human obesity and other features of
metabolic syndrome. Patients with Cushing´s syndrome (CS)
develop numerous features of metabolic syndrome due to chronic
cortisol excess. Here we tested the hypothesis that chronically
increased cortisol levels in CS patients may alter circulating levels
of FABP-4. Fourteen patients with CS, 19 patients with simple
obesity (OB) and 36 healthy control subjects (C) were included in
the study. Serum FABP-4 concentrations were significantly higher
in both CS and OB patients relative to C group, but they did not
differ between CS and OB groups. In a combined population of
all groups, serum FABP-4 levels correlated positively with BMI,
body fat content, serum glucose, triglycerides, HbA1c and HOMA
index and were inversely related to HDL-cholesterol, resting
energy expenditure and freeT3 levels. We conclude that FABP-4
levels are significantly increased in both patients with simple
obesity and obese patients with Cushing´s syndrome. We
suggest that increased FABP-4 concentrations in CS patients are
rather due to their excessive fat accumulation and related
metabolic abnormalities than due to a direct effect of cortisol on
FABP-4 production.
ADIPOCYTE FATTY ACID BINDING PROTEIN AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS AS INDICATORS OF INSULIN RESISTANCE DEVELOPMENT