Serum levels of the adipokine chemerin are increased in preeclampsia during and 6 months after pregnancy

Preeclampsia is a serious cardiovascular complication in pregnancy which is associated with an increased future metabolic and cardiovascular risk for mother and newborn. Recently, chemerin was introduced as a novel adipokine inducing insulin resistance in vitro and in vivo. In the current study, we investigated serum concentrations of chemerin by ELISA in control and preeclampsia patients during pregnancy (Control: n = 37, preeclampsia: n = 37) and 6 months after delivery (Control: n = 35, preeclampsia: n = 36). Furthermore, the association between chemerin and markers of renal function, glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation was studied in pregnant patients. Median maternal chemerin concentrations were significantly elevated in preeclampsia patients (249.5 [range: 123.1–366.9] μg/l) as compared to controls (204.8 [138.5–280.8] μg/l) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, chemerin serum levels positively correlated with blood pressure, creatinine, free fatty acids, cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), leptin, adiponectin, and C-reactive protein in univariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, TG and leptin remained independently associated with circulating chemerin. Interestingly, median chemerin concentrations 6 months after delivery remained significantly higher in former preeclampsia patients (196.0 [119.8–368.7] μg/l) as compared to controls (152.2 [102.8–216.4] μg/l). Taken together, maternal chemerin serum concentrations are significantly increased in preeclampsia during and after pregnancy. Furthermore, TG and leptin are independent predictors of circulating chemerin during pregnancy.

Research highlights
► Serum levels of the adipokine chemerin are increased in preeclampsia during pregnancy and 6 months after delivery.
► Triglycerides are independently associated with circulating chemerin.
► Leptin is independently associated with circulating chemerin.