DEVELOPMENT OF A CHEMOKINE-LIKE RECEPTOR 1 BIOASSAY TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF OBESITY ON ACTIVE CHEMERIN PRODUCTION IN OBESE HUMANS

Abstract

Prochemerin is an adipose-secreted molecule that is cleaved by extracellular proteases of the inflammatory, coagulation, and fibrinolytic cascades to active chemerin. Plasma and serum total chemerin (prochemerin + active chemerin) is increased in obese humans suggesting that chemerin may contribute to obesity-associated diseases. The effect of obesity on the production of active chemerin is unknown, given a lack of assays that specifically measure active chemerin in biological fluids. We optimized the chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) bioassay to measure active chemerinin human plasma and serum and used this assayto determine that active chemerin is increased in in obese vs. normal weight humans and in serum vs. plasma. Active chemerin chemerin concentrations were more strongly correlated with waist to hip ratio (WHR) than body mass index (BMI). This supports the potential for modified chemerin signalling and function in obese individuals with central obesity.