THE ROLE OF VASPIN IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS

Abstract

Background: Adipo(cyto)kines are substances derived from adipose tissue that influence central processes in the body like inflammation, in addition to their effect on metabolism. Adipocytokines are implicated in inflammatory pathways that affect different types of cells in autoimmune disorders. Many rheumatic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, are classified as autoimmune diseases. A chronic inflammatory environment develops as a result of autoimmune reactions, affecting the entire body, notably adipose tissue. Vaspin, an adipocytokine, is a visceral serpin protease inhibitor produced by subcutaneous adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, skin and stomach. Objectives: The present review summarizes the structure, mechanism of action and role of vaspin in the pathophysiology and development of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Methodology: The data was collected through the electronic search of several scientific sources including, Science Direct, PubMed, and Google scholar. Results: Because of changes in systemic vaspin levels, its potential role as a biomarker in the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases has been suggested. Furthermore, vaspin induction by adipose tissue may produce a compensatory response to obesity and its inflammatory consequences. Recent studies have shown that vaspin levels are lower in osteoarthritis and higher in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis compared to healthy control. Moreover, vaspin elevation may assist in predicting who is at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion: Vaspin inhibitors can attenuate the pathological processes of rheumatoid arthritis and improve the outcome of treatment when used in combination with other inflammatory mediator inhibitors.