Abstrakt
Adipokines are cytokine-like molecules that were primarily thought to be produced by adipocytes. However, under pathological conditions, predominantly, immune cells secrete and largely contribute to increased local and sometimes also systemic levels of adipokines.
In the past decade, the role of adipokines has been extensively studied in chronic inflammation, cancer, and other various conditions, including systemic rheumatic diseases. Adipokines modulate function of different tissues and cells, and in addition to energy homeostasis and metabolism, amplify inflammation, immune response, and tissue damage.
In general, adipokines are elevated in systemic rheumatic diseases compared with control subject and associate with inflammatory status. Several adipokines are involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases and are also studied as surrogate biomarkers.
In this editorial, the role of adipokines as biomarkers of disease activity, further prognosis and treatment outcome or their potential implication as therapeutic targets in systemic rheumatic diseases will be discussed.