Emergence of SFRP5 as a pleiotropic adipocytokine and its association with Wnt signaling pathways

The widespread perception of obesity as a non-communicable disease is slowly giving way to the view of a contagious, communicable and potentially fatal condition. The downstream comorbidities associated with it are endless. Hence, the slogan "Fat To Fit" is being promoted worldwide. The view of white adipose tissue as a fat storage organ is now shifting to an endocrine organ. The secreted hormones, called adipocytokines, act in an autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine fashion. Like other hormones, they can have a positive as well as a negative influence over the body. Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) is a recently identified novel adipocytokine which falls under the category of those adipokines which have a positive influence on the system. Plasma SFRP5 levels are significantly lower in patients with obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, a condition which contributes to the major components of the metabolic syndrome and to other disease conditions like atherosclerosis, autoimmune disorders, etc. This review article focuses on the effects of SFRP5 on the major systems of the body and on its association with the Wnt signaling pathways.