Systemic resistin is increased in type 2 diabetic patients treated with loop diuretics

Increased serum resistin was found in rodent models of obesity and insulin resistance, whereas contradictory results have been obtained in human studies. In humans, resistin is primarily released by monocytes/macrophages, suggesting that soluble levels may be associated with macrophage activation. Here, systemic and monocyte-released resistin levels were found to be similar in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients, overweight controls and normal-weight controls. When adjusted for body mass index and age, serum resistin modestly correlated with gamma-glutamyltransferase levels, fasting glucose and interleukin-6. Systemic resistin was marginally increased in T2D patients treated with beta-blockers or urate-lowering drugs and was considerably higher in patients treated with loop diuretics. Monocyte-released resistin was even reduced by the loop diuretic furosemide, excluding the possibility that this drug may directly stimulate resistin synthesis. In summary, the current data indicate that changes accompanying renal dysfunction but not obesity or type 2 diabetes are associated with increased serum resistin.