Omentin: a biomarker of cardiovascular risk in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Cardiology
• Genetics

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).
• Adipokine dysregulation, specifically low omentin levels, is implicated in metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.
• Omentin's role in axSpA and its association with cardiovascular risk requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic and functional implications of omentin in cardiovascular risk and subclinical atherosclerosis within an axSpA cohort.
• To assess serum omentin levels, omentin mRNA expression, and the association of the omentin rs12409609 polymorphism with cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in axSpA.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 385 axSpA patients and 84 controls were analyzed.
• Serum omentin levels and omentin mRNA expression were measured.
• The omentin rs12409609 polymorphism, in linkage disequilibrium with a known cardiovascular risk polymorphism, was genotyped. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed via carotid ultrasound.

Main Results:

• Serum and mRNA omentin levels were significantly lower in axSpA patients compared to controls.
• Low serum omentin levels correlated with male sex, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and a high atherogenic index.
• The minor allele of rs12409609 was associated with reduced omentin mRNA expression in axSpA, but no direct association with subclinical atherosclerosis was found.

Conclusions:

• Low serum omentin levels are associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with axSpA.
• The rs12409609 polymorphism may contribute to decreased omentin expression in axSpA.
• Omentin shows potential as a biomarker for cardiovascular risk in axial spondyloarthritis.