Omentin 298 a.a. Human

What is the molecular structure of human Omentin/Intelectin-1?

Human Intelectin-1/Omentin is derived from a preproprecursor that is 313 amino acids in length. The protein structure consists of:

• An 18 amino acid signal sequence

• A 280 amino acid mature segment (positions 19-298)

• A 15 amino acid C-terminal segment

The mature protein has a molecular weight of approximately 34 kDa and is encoded by the gene with accession number Q8WWA0 . The protein is primarily produced by visceral adipose tissue, distinguishing it from many other adipokines that are predominantly expressed in subcutaneous adipose tissue .

What are validated detection methods for Omentin in experimental settings?

Multiple validated techniques have demonstrated efficacy in detecting Omentin:

• Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence: Optimal concentrations range from 0.5-10 μg/mL using affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies. For example, sheep anti-human Intelectin-1/Omentin antibody at 5 μg/mL has shown specific staining in the cytoplasm of U937 human histiocytic lymphoma cells .

• Tissue-specific localization: Fluorescent immunohistochemistry effectively identifies Omentin in goblet cells of the intestine, where it localizes to mucus granules .

• Western Blotting: Recommended for protein quantification in tissue lysates.

• ELISA: Primary method for measuring circulating levels in serum or plasma samples.

Multiple detection methods should be employed for cross-validation of results, particularly when investigating novel tissues or experimental conditions.

What tissue expression patterns have been established for Omentin?

Omentin demonstrates distinct expression patterns across multiple tissues:

• Primary production site: Visceral adipose tissue

• Intestinal tissues: Particularly in goblet cells of the ileum, where it localizes to mucus granules

• Immune cells: Detected in the cytoplasm of U937 human histiocytic lymphoma cell line

• Evolutionary conservation: Similar expression patterns observed in mouse intestine

This diverse expression profile suggests functions beyond metabolism, potentially including roles in mucosal immunity and intestinal barrier function.

How do Omentin levels correlate with metabolic disorders?

Research consistently demonstrates significant relationships between Omentin levels and metabolic health:

The consistent inverse relationship between Omentin levels and metabolic disorders suggests its potential utility as a biomarker for metabolic health assessment .

What experimental evidence supports Omentin's role in glucose regulation?

Multiple lines of evidence establish Omentin's relationship with glucose homeostasis:

• Decreased Omentin concentrations are observed in patients with impaired glucose regulation and diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) .

• Inverse correlations exist between Omentin levels and insulin resistance markers .

• Experimental Omentin-1 administration in high-fat diet-fed rats significantly decreased glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR compared to untreated obese controls .

These findings suggest that Omentin likely improves insulin sensitivity through mechanisms that warrant further investigation in molecular signaling studies.

Can dietary interventions modify Omentin expression in research models?

Emerging evidence supports dietary modification of Omentin levels:

• Athonian-type fasting (AOF): Can significantly increase Omentin levels, which are known to decrease in obesity and type 2 diabetes .

• Time-restricted eating (TRE): Shows effects on adipokine profiles including Omentin .

• Energy restriction: Hypocaloric diets (1200-1500 kcal/day for women; 1500-1800 kcal/day for men) combined with time-restricted feeding windows demonstrate improvements in adipokine profiles .

These findings provide methodological guidance for researchers designing interventional studies targeting Omentin modulation.

What animal models are most appropriate for studying Omentin's biological effects?

Rat models have demonstrated particular utility in Omentin research:

• Diet-induced obesity model: High-fat diet (60% fat, 21% carbohydrate, 18% protein, 5.1 calories/g) for 10 weeks successfully induces obesity and decreases Omentin levels, mimicking human pathophysiology .

• Intervention protocol: Daily intraperitoneal injections of Omentin-1 (0.2 ml) for 14 consecutive days has shown efficacy in reversing metabolic alterations .

• Control considerations: Vehicle-treated control groups receiving equivalent volumes of physiologic saline provide appropriate comparisons .

When designing animal experiments, researchers should include comprehensive metabolic assessments including glucose, insulin, lipid parameters, and tissue-specific analyses to fully characterize Omentin's effects.

What methodologies are validated for assessing Omentin's effects on bone metabolism?

The following validated protocols assess bone-related outcomes in Omentin research:

• Macroscopic assessment: Examination of femur, tibia, and fibula morphology .

• Quantitative measurements: Dry and ash weight of femur as indicators of bone mineralization .

• Histological analysis: Longitudinal bone sections assess:

  • Bone thickness

  • Trabecular bone structure

  • Adipocyte content in bone marrow

  • Distribution of hematopoietic tissue

• Molecular analysis: Gene expression studies of bone metabolism regulators using RT-PCR with primers:

  • mTORC1: forward 5′-ATG ACG AGA CCC AGG CTA AG-3′; reverse 5′-GCC AGT CCT CTA CAA TAC GC-3′

  • AMPK: forward 5′-TGAAGCCAGAGAACGTGTTG-3', reverse 5′-ATAATTTGGCGATCCACAGC-3′

These methodologies provide a comprehensive approach to characterizing Omentin's effects on bone metabolism.

What statistical approaches are recommended for Omentin research?

Based on established methodologies in Omentin studies:

• Data distribution analysis:

  • Test for normality using D'Agostino–Pearson test

  • Present normally distributed variables as mean ± standard deviation

  • Present non-normally distributed variables as median (interquartile range)

• Comparative analyses:

  • Student's t-test for normally distributed variables

  • Mann-Whitney test for non-normally distributed variables

• Longitudinal data:

  • Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)

  • Logarithmic transformation of non-normally distributed variables before ANOVA

  • Multiple regression analysis to correlate changes in Omentin with simultaneous changes in other parameters

• Significance thresholds:

  • Standard threshold of p < 0.05 is typically used in Omentin research

What evidence supports Omentin's role in bone metabolism?

Research demonstrates significant effects of Omentin on bone health:

• High-fat diet-induced obesity leads to significant bone loss in rat models, with decreased dry and ash weight of femur .

• Omentin-1 treatment antagonizes this bone loss, with significantly higher dry and ash weight of femur in treated versus untreated obese rats .

• Histological examination reveals that Omentin-1 treatment prevents:

  • Severe thinning of bone

  • Excessive adipocyte infiltration in bone marrow

  • Reduction in trabecular bone formation

These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications for Omentin in preventing obesity-associated bone disorders through mechanisms potentially involving mTORC1 and AMPK signaling pathways.

How does Omentin interact with inflammatory pathways in metabolic research?

While the search results don't provide detailed information on inflammatory pathways, several inferences can be made:

• Omentin exists within a network of over 600 cytokines (adipokines) produced by adipose tissue that are involved in various metabolic processes including inflammation .

• Its inverse relationship with obesity and related disorders suggests potential anti-inflammatory properties, as these conditions are characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation .

• Dietary interventions that increase Omentin (such as Athonian fasting) also reduce vaspin, an adipokine that increases in obesity and type 2 diabetes .

These relationships warrant further investigation into Omentin's potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms through carefully designed molecular signaling studies.

What are promising future research directions for Omentin?

Based on current evidence, several promising research directions emerge:

• Therapeutic potential in metabolic disorders:

  • Developing recombinant Omentin as a potential therapeutic agent

  • Identifying dietary or pharmacological approaches to enhance endogenous Omentin production

  • Investigating Omentin's effects on insulin signaling pathways

• Bone metabolism applications:

  • Characterizing molecular mechanisms underlying Omentin's bone-protective effects

  • Assessing potential applications in osteoporosis and other bone disorders

  • Investigating interactions with established bone metabolism regulators

• Cardiovascular applications:

  • Evaluating Omentin's effects on endothelial function and atherosclerosis

  • Investigating potential cardioprotective mechanisms

• Methodological advances:

  • Developing standardized assays for Omentin measurement

  • Establishing reference ranges across different populations

  • Creating tissue-specific conditional knockout models

What factors affect reliable measurement of Omentin in research samples?

Several methodological considerations impact Omentin measurement:

• Preanalytical variables:

  • Fasting status of subjects

  • Time of day for sample collection (potential circadian variation)

  • Sample processing time and temperature

  • Storage conditions and freeze-thaw cycles

• Analytical variables:

  • Antibody specificity and cross-reactivity

  • Assay sensitivity and dynamic range

  • Calibration standards and quality controls

  • Inter-laboratory variability

• Biological variables:

  • Age and sex of subjects

  • BMI and body composition

  • Metabolic health status

  • Concurrent medications

Researchers should standardize these variables and include appropriate controls to enhance measurement reliability and cross-study comparisons.

How should researchers address contradictory findings in Omentin research?

When faced with contradictory findings regarding Omentin, researchers should:

• Evaluate methodological differences:

  • Sample collection methods

  • Assay techniques

  • Sample processing and storage conditions

• Consider study population heterogeneity:

  • Age and sex distributions

  • Metabolic health status

  • Comorbid conditions

• Apply appropriate statistical approaches:

  • Meta-analysis of multiple studies

  • Sensitivity analyses to identify sources of heterogeneity

  • Subgroup analyses to identify population-specific effects

• Examine contextual factors:

  • Dietary patterns of study participants

  • Physical activity levels

  • Medication use that might influence adipokine levels

What ethical considerations apply to Omentin research?

Ethical research practices in Omentin studies include:

• Human studies:

  • Obtaining appropriate institutional review board approval

  • Securing written informed consent from participants before enrollment

  • Ensuring confidentiality by processing personal information anonymously

• Animal studies:

  • Following guidelines from the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources

  • Obtaining approval from institutional animal care and use committees

  • Using appropriate numbers of animals with power calculations

  • Providing proper housing conditions (comfortable temperature, regular light/dark cycles, adequate space)

• Data reporting:

  • Transparent reporting of methodology

  • Publication of negative results

  • Sharing of raw data when appropriate

These ethical principles ensure research integrity while maximizing scientific value and minimizing harm.