Diagnostic and prognostic aspects of omentin in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are a major factor of disability and premature death worldwide. An important objective of modern cardiology is searching for new cardiovascular biological markers. These markers can be valuable for early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, laboratory assessing the effectiveness of treatment and prediction of possible adverse clinical outcomes. We could use these factors for risk stratification. The purpose of this review is to analyze omentin as a new diagnostic and prognostic marker for cardiovascular diseases. Omentin-1, also known as intestinal lactoferrin receptor, endothelial lectin HL-1, galactofuranase-binding lectin or integrin-1, is a recently identified secretory protein that is selectively expressed in visceral adipose tissue. Experimental and clinical data have demonstrated the crucial role of omentin-1 in metabolism and insulin sensitivity, its anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic and cardiac protective effects. It is expected that further studies will demonstrate omentin-1 as an additional laboratory tool for diagnosis and prognosis in cardiac patients. Regulation of omentin concentration and expression by various drugs may be perspective for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.