Evaluation of serum SFRP5 ( secreted frizzled-related protein 5) levels and its relationship with metabolic parameters in obese adult patients

Introduction: Obesity is a metabolic disorder with increasing prevalance and causes serious health problems associated with an increase in body fat. Studies have shown that obesity is actually a low-level chronic inflammation of adipose tissue and this condition affects the signal molecules and adipokines secreted from adipose tissue. As a novel anti-inflammatory adipokine, Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) has shown its beneficial effects on obesity and metabolic disorders. Adipose tissue mRNA expression and protein secretion of SFRP5, an inhibitor of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway, is impaired in obesity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between SFRP5 with obesity and metabolic parameters, which was not previously studied in the Turkish population. Material and Method: Fourty five obese patients aged 18 to 65 years and thirty five healthy volunteers who were similar with patients in terms of gender and age who reffered to Gazi University Medical Faculty Hospital Endocrinology and Metabolism Department Diabetes and Obesity and General Internal Medicine outpatient clinics between October 2020 and May 2021 were included in the study. Fasting serum SFRP5 levels and biochemical parameters, body composition, abdominal and visceral adiposity were evaluated in all cases. Findings: In our study, we found that serum SFRP5 levels were significantly lower in the obese group compared to the control group. However, we did not find a significant difference in SFRP5 levels in obese patients with metabolic syndrome compared to obese patients without metabolic syndrome. In addition, we found a significant negative correlation between SFRP5 level and age, BMI, WC, HC, body fat percentage, body fat mass, trunk fat percentage, trunk fat mass, abdominal and visceral adiposity, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, LDL, TC, insulin and HOMA-IR in the whole group. The best cut-off value for serum SFRP5 to predict obesity was 8.82 ng/mL (71.4% sensitivity, 71.1% specificity, and AUC 0.714). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of SFRP5 levels with obesity, age, HOMA-IR, HDL, fasting blood glucose, AST, uric acid, CRE and BUN. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study showed that there is a negative relationship between risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases and SFRP5. İt was shown that SFRP5, which decreases as a result of chronic low-level inflammation that developing in metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties. Keywords: SFRP5, Obesity, metabolic complications, Bioelectrical impedance analysis, MetS