Association between circulating follistatin-like-1 and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and old population: A cross-sectional study

Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2021 Feb;37(2):e3373. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.3373. Epub 2020 Jul 24.

Abstract

Aim: Follistatin-like-1 (FSTL-1) is considered to be a novel cytokine, and it is associated with metabolic diseases. However, it is necessary to investigate further the association of FSTL-1 with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance (IR). We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the associated of circulating FSTL-1 with the MetS.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 487 Chinese people, including 231 control subjects and 256 patients with MetS. Bioinformatics analysis was used to determine the protein and pathways associated with FSTL-1. The protein and protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and analysed. Serum FSTL-1 concentrations were determined by an ELISA assay. The association of FSTL-1 with MetS components and IR was assessed.

Results: Serum FSTL-1 levels were markedly higher in patients with newly diagnosed MetS than in controls (7.5 [5.6-9.2] vs 5.8 [5.0-7.7] μg/L, P < .01). According to bioinformatics analysis, the top high-degree genes were identified as the core genes, including SPARCL1, CYR61, LTBP1, IL-6, BMP2, BMP4, FBN1, FN1 CHRDL1 and FSTL-3. These genes are mainly enriched in pathways including TGF-ß, AGE-RAGE signalling pathway in diabetic complications, and Hippo signalling pathways; in basal cell carcinoma, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and in amoebic and Yersinia infections. Furthermore, serum FSTL-1 levels were positively associated with fasting plasma glucose (FPG), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, triglyceride levels and visceral adiposity index (VAI). We found that serum FSTL-1 levels were markedly associated with MetS and IR by binary logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions: We conclude that FSTL-1 may be a novel cytokine related to MetS and IR.

Keywords: FSTL-1; bioinformatics; insulin resistance; metabolic syndrome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Follistatin* / blood
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Metabolic Syndrome* / blood
  • Metabolic Syndrome* / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Follistatin