Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Sciences, University of
Messina, Messina, Italy | Department of Internal Medicine, University of
Messina, Messina, Italy
Abstract: Childhood obesity is characterized by a chronic low-grade
inflammation process detected through a panel of inflammatory markers.
Adipokines secreted from adipose tissue are key regulators of inflammation in
obesity. Increased Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α and
Interleukin (IL)-6 levels as well as decreased adiponectin and IL-10 levels are
associated with inflammation, tissue injury and complications of obesity. The
recent discovery of High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) protein as a critical
mediator of inflammation stimulated an increasing interest in inflammation
research field. Obese children are characterized by high levels of this
protein, closely related with other inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6,
TNF-α, IL-18, resistin and adiponectin. Moreover,
prolactin represents another risk marker for obese children and a predictive
factor for progression to metabolic syndrome. Leptin and ghrelin are two
hormones playing key roles on energy balance. Leptin is responsible from long
term regulation of metabolism and ghrelin functions as an appetite stimulatory
signal. In contrast to ghrelin, obestatin acts as an anorexigenic hormone by
suppressing food intake. Moreover, we also reviewed other gut-derived hormones
involved in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis, such as
amylin, peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide 1. All these peptides could
represent important tools to detect eating disorders in children. The aim of
this review is to better define the role of new peptides in childhood obesity.
The diagnostic and prognostic role of these biomarkers was also assessed,
highlighting potential strategies and proteomic medicine that could become
possible in the near future.
