The adipokine Isthmin-1 in obesity and its complications: recent research advances

Obesity is a pressing global health issue, intricately linked to numerous metabolic disorders. Despite advances in understanding its pathophysiology, how to early predict obesity and its complications and take effective prevention and treatment strategies remains not fully elucidated. Isthmin-1(ISM1), a recently identified adipokine, had been reported to play a pivotal role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. In obesity, ISM1 expression has been upregulated, correlating with increased body mass index (BMI) and visceral adiposity. It could also promote glucose uptake, enhances insulin sensitivity, and mitigates hepatic steatosis by inhibiting lipid synthesis. Thus, ISM1 has emerged as a significant research focus in metabolic disorders. However, current studies were limited by a reliance on animal models and a paucity of large-scale human studies, with unresolved questions regarding sex-specific effects and causality. This review would comprehensively summarize the role of ISM1 in obesity and discusses whether there is possibility that it is able to become a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for metabolic diseases.