Visfatin

Visfatin (also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor or PBEF) is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and whose blood levels correlate with obesity. It is considered a new member of the larger group of adipokines which also includes leptin and adiponectin. It is a natural insulin mimetic since it has been shown to bind to insulin receptors.

Its existence was first described by Fukuhara et al in 2005. They discovered its production in a cDNA collection of an obese female. It was found to be identical to the previously known cytokine pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF). Measuring levels of this mediator in mice revealed a correllation between visceral fat and visfatin levels, and it was found that recombinant visfatin acted as an insulin analogue on the insulin receptor.

References

• Fukuhara A, Matsuda M, Nishizawa M, Segawa K, Tanaka M, Kishimoto K, Matsuki Y, Murakami M, Ichisaka T, Murakami H, Watanabe E, Takagi T, Akiyoshi M, Ohtsubo T, Kihara S, Yamashita S, Makishima M, Funahashi T, Yamanaka S, Hiramatsu R, Matsuzawa Y, Shimomura I. Visfatin: a protein secreted by visceral fat that mimics the effects of insulin. Science 2005;307:426-30. PMID 15604363.

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