Increased serum resistin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes are not linked with markers of insulin resistance and adiposity.

The role of resistin in human biology remains uncertain. We measured serum resistin levels in Japanese patients with (n=111) and without (n=98) type 2 diabetes mellitus and investigated the significance of this hormone in the pathophysiology of diabetes. The levels of serum adiponectin and leptin were also measured. Resistin levels were increased significantly in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with non-diabetic subjects (24.7+/-2.6 vs. 15.0+/-1.2 ng/ml, p=0.0013). However, there was no correlation in either patient group between serum resistin levels and markers of insulin resistance, obesity or hyperlipidaemia. These results were in direct contrast to the data of leptin or adiponectin, both of which were closely related to these clinical markers of diabetes. Multivariate regression analysis on the combined data of the two groups demonstrated that the presence of diabetes and HDL cholesterol levels were significant predictors of serum resistin levels (diabetes: beta=0.159, p=0.035; HDL: beta=-0.172, p=0.039). No correlation was observed between C-reactive protein and resistin adjusted for BMI. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that serum resistin levels are increased in patients with type 2 diabetes, but this increase is not linked to markers of insulin resistance or adiposity. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the significance of serum resistin concentration in human pathophysiology.

[Use of normal human hepatocytes in a hybrid organ system]. / Einsatz von normalen humanen Hepatozyten in einem hybriden Organsystem.

Using the bioreactor model developed by J. Gerlach, we examined the potential of normal human hepatocytes for application in bioartificial liver devices. From normal human donor livers 1.5 x 10(8) hepatocytes were isolated. Hepatocytes were perfused in a woven multi-compartment capillary system in serum-free culture medium containing ammoniachloride over a period of 2 weeks. These cells demonstrated a well differentiated ultrastructure with formation of junctional complexes and bile canaliculi between adjacent cells. During reactor run, a constant albumin synthesis with levels above 11 mg/ml and maintenance of urea production and lignocaine metabolism (MEGX-test) were detected. These initial results indicate that normal human hepatocytes express typical morphology and ultrastructure and are able to keep differentiated functions in suitable perfusion models. Combination of the distinct human liver cell populations might enable promotion of further specific functions (clotting factors) and induction of liver cell proliferation.