A role of resistin as a mediator of hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress

The adipokine resistin is a link between obesity and insulin resistance, but the possible role of resistin during liver damage has not been analyzed. Aims of the study were to investigate: (1) the expression of resistin in human liver tissue; (2) the biologic actions of resistin on human hepatic stellate cells (HSC); (3) the effects of resistin in an in vivo model of acute liver injury. Resistin expression was low in normal human liver and upregulated in the presence of severe fibrosis. Exposure of human HSC to resistin increased the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-8. These effects were associated with activation of nuclear factorNF-kB. Resistin also induced a rapid increase in intracellular calcium concentration, through phospholipase C activation and calcium release from intracellular IP3-sensitive pools. Resistin is expressed in human liver and provides evidence for pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant actions.