Published in:
01-02-2006 | Short Communication
Paradoxical rise in serum adiponectin concentration in the face of acid-induced insulin resistance 13-cis-retinoic
Published in: Diabetologia | Issue 2/2006
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Aims/hypothesis
We previously reported that treatment of acne with 13-cis-retinoic acid causes insulin resistance and disturbances in lipid metabolism resembling those of the insulin-resistance syndrome. It is not known whether this is associated with alterations in the concentrations of serum adiponectin, an insulin-sensitising hormone secreted by adipocytes.
Materials and methods
Eleven men (age 24±2 years, BMI 22.1±0.9 kg/m2) received 13-cis-retinoic acid (Roaccutan) treatment for acne for an average of 5 months. The insulin sensitivity of the subjects and concentrations of serum adiponectin were measured before, during and 1 month after the treatment by a euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp and ELISA, respectively.
Results
There was a reversible reduction in whole-body insulin sensitivity during therapy with 13-cis-retinoic acid. This was associated with a transient 34% increase in serum adiponectin concentration (from 5.3±0.9 to 7.1±1.2 μg/ml, p<0.05), with a return to pretreatment levels by 1 month after the end of therapy. In the pretreatment study, as well as in the study performed 1 month after the end of therapy, there was a small yet significant decrease in serum adiponectin concentration during a 4-h euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp. This decrease was not observed in the clamp performed during treatment with 13-cis-retinoic acid.
Conclusions/interpretation
There is a paradoxical increase in fasting serum adiponectin concentration during the 13-cis-retinoic acid-induced reduction in insulin sensitivity.