Visfatin and resistin: role in health and disease

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ secreting numerous neuroendocrine and peripheral peptides known as adipokines. The analysis of the essential scientific papers published from 2002 to the present has been made. Despite the fact that the role of adipokines remains controversial, their participation in metabolism, inflammation and the functioning of the endocrine system has been convincingly proven. Visfatin is an endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine peptide with many functions, including enhancing cell proliferation, nicotinamide biosynthesis, and a hypoglycemic effect. Resistin is a peptide hormone originally found in mice as a factor that induces insulin resistance. The article provides systematic information about publications concerning the study of the role of visfatin gene polymorphism. The molecular and endocrine mechanisms of visfatin and resistin and their role in the development of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis are presented. The role of these adipokines in the formation of perinatal complications in cases of impaired carbohydrate metabolism in pregnant women was evaluated according the analysis of published data. The review also demonstrates that hyperglycemia, obesity, excessive weight gain during gestation lead to impaired synthesis and function of the analyzed cytokines in adipose tissue, and to the development of fetal macrosomia. It is shown that visfatin and resistin can be considered as biological markers of pathological processes, and the further study will create the prerequisites for developing new preventive strategies and optimizing the treatment process.