Omentin Human
Description
Biological Functions and Mechanisms
Insulin Sensitivity Enhancement
Omentin potentiates insulin signaling through multiple pathways:
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Increases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by 50% in human subcutaneous adipocytes ()
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Enhances Akt phosphorylation in adipocytes, even without insulin stimulation
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Promotes endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation in vascular tissues
Metabolic Regulation
| Parameter | Omentin Effect | Study Details |
|---|---|---|
| Basal Glucose Uptake | +32-42% increase | Human skeletal myotubes |
| Triglycerides | Inverse correlation () | Obesity cohort |
| HOMA-IR | Negative association () | Cross-sectional study |
Clinical Correlations
Disease Associations
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Obesity: Plasma levels 23% lower in obese vs lean individuals (286.97 vs 234.36 ng/mL, )
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Type 2 Diabetes: 30% reduction in omentin expression compared to controls
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Cardiovascular Disease: Atherosclerotic plaque areas reduced by 40% with omentin infusion in murine models ()
Gender-Specific Effects
Therapeutic Potential
Experimental Outcomes
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Atherosclerosis: 5 μg/kg/h infusion decreased total cholesterol by 30% in mice ()
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Insulin Resistance: 300 ng/mL omentin increased adipocyte glucose transport from 47% to 105% over basal ()
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Inflammation: Suppressed NF-κB and COX-2 expression in macrophages by 60%
Clinical Trial Considerations
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Dose-dependent effects observed between 150-300 ng/mL concentrations
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Lactotransferrin interaction modulates glucose uptake efficacy
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Intra-gender response variations require stratification in human trials
Current Research Challenges
Product Specs
Omentin, primarily found in visceral adipose tissue, is a recently discovered gene localized to the mental tissue. Its presence is observed in the stromal vascular cells of adipose tissue, rather than in adipocytes. Notably, omentin exhibits significantly higher expression in visceral adipose tissue compared to subcutaneous tissue, with a 150-fold difference in mRNA levels. Studies using western blot analysis have confirmed the presence of omentin in human blood. Furthermore, research suggests that omentin may enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in mice. It appears that omentin promotes Akt phosphorylation, regardless of insulin presence. While its precise role in glucose metabolism and obesity is yet to be fully elucidated, there is a possibility that it possesses insulin-sensitizing properties. Interestingly, variations in omentin expression have been observed between adipose tissue from healthy individuals and patients with inflammatory bowel disease, although the clinical significance of this finding remains unclear.
Recombinant Human Omentin is produced in E. coli using recombinant DNA technology. It is a single polypeptide chain comprising 313 amino acids, resulting in a molecular weight of 35 kDa. The purification process of Intelectin involves proprietary chromatographic techniques.
The product appears as a sterile, white powder that has been lyophilized (freeze-dried).
Each milligram of the lyophilized powder contains 10mM NaP (pH 7.5) and mannitol in a 5:1 ratio to the protein.
To reconstitute the lyophilized Omentin, it is recommended to dissolve it in sterile 18MΩ-cm H2O at a concentration of at least 100µg/ml. This solution can then be further diluted in other aqueous solutions as needed.
While lyophilized Intelectin can remain stable at room temperature for up to 3 weeks, it is recommended to store it desiccated at a temperature below -18°C. Once reconstituted, Intelectin should be stored at 4°C for a period of 2-7 days. For long-term storage, it is advisable to freeze it below -18°C. To enhance stability during long-term storage, consider adding a carrier protein such as HSA or BSA (0.1%). Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to maintain product integrity.
SDS-PAGE analysis indicates that the purity of this product is greater than 95%.
Q&A
What is omentin and what are its major isoforms?
Omentin (also known as intelectin, intestinal lactoferrin receptor, endothelian lectin HL-1, galactofuranose-binding lectin) is an adipokine whose gene is expressed mainly in stromal vascular fraction cells of visceral adipose tissue rather than subcutaneous tissue . It has two isoforms: omentin-1 and omentin-2, with omentin-1 being the main form circulating in human blood . The omentin gene is located in chromosomal region 1q21.3, which has been previously linked to type 2 diabetes in several populations .
What are the fundamental physiological roles of omentin-1?
Omentin-1 plays crucial roles in energy homeostasis, glucose metabolism, cardiovascular system functioning, and the reduction of oxidative stress . Research indicates that it has beneficial effects on these systems and shows protective properties against cancer, atherosclerosis, and metabolic bone disease . It is considered one of the few adipokines with potentially beneficial metabolic effects, highlighting its significance in various physiological processes .
Are there gender differences in omentin-1 expression and function?
Yes, significant gender differences exist. Higher plasma omentin-1 levels have been detected in women compared to men . Interestingly, high omentin-1 levels found in men with obesity and normal glucose tolerance suggest that omentin-1 may provide protection against metabolic disorders associated with obesity specifically in the male population . These gender-specific effects should be considered when designing research studies and interpreting results.
How does omentin-1 interact with insulin signaling pathways?
Experimental evidence shows that while the addition of recombinant omentin-1 does not affect basal glucose uptake, it enhances insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in both subcutaneous and omental human adipocytes . Mechanistically, omentin-1 increases Akt phosphorylation both in the absence and presence of insulin, suggesting it may regulate insulin action through this pathway . These findings have important implications for understanding omentin-1's role in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
What is the relationship between omentin-1 and inflammatory processes?
Omentin-1 demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that mice lacking omentin-1 displayed heightened central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) . Furthermore, omentin-1 shows promise as a therapeutic agent by enhancing barrier function and maintaining an endogenous anti-inflammatory balance to reduce proinflammatory cytokines . Omentin-1 supplementation has been shown to improve intestinal inflammation severity in mice with colitis by regulating oxidative stress and intestinal barrier function .
How does omentin-1 correlate with obesity and insulin resistance?
Multiple studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between omentin-1 levels and obesity markers. Lean subjects have significantly higher omentin-1 plasma levels than obese and overweight subjects . Plasma omentin-1 levels are inversely correlated with BMI, waist circumference, leptin levels, and insulin resistance (as measured by homeostasis model assessment) and positively correlated with adiponectin and HDL levels . These findings suggest that decreased omentin-1 levels are associated with increasing obesity and insulin resistance.
What are the optimal methods for measuring omentin-1 in human samples?
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is the standard method for measuring omentin-1 in human samples. When selecting an ELISA kit for omentin-1 quantification, researchers should consider:
| Technical Aspect | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Sample types | Serum and plasma (EDTA, citrate, heparin) |
| Storage conditions | Complete kits should be stored at 2-8°C |
| Assay time | Typically less than 3.5 hours |
| Standards | Recombinant protein-based |
| Controls | Human serum-based quality controls |
Source: Human Omentin-1 ELISA Kit Information
What study design considerations are important when investigating omentin-1?
When designing studies to investigate omentin-1, researchers should consider:
How should researchers account for confounding variables in omentin-1 studies?
Multivariable regression models have shown a significant effect of gender status and important factors of tissue insulin sensitivity (such as OGTT results, WHR, and amount of body fat) on the variability of serum omentin-1 concentration . In clinical studies, researchers should adjust for age, BMI, sex, work, marriage, education, and symptom severity scores to determine the independent associations of omentin-1 with outcome measures . This approach helps control for potential confounding factors that might influence the interpretation of results.
What is the potential of omentin-1 as a biomarker for metabolic disorders?
Omentin-1 shows considerable promise as a biomarker for metabolic disorders:
These findings highlight omentin-1's potential utility as a biomarker for assessing metabolic health and risk stratification.
How does omentin-1 relate to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastrointestinal disorders?
Recent research has uncovered significant associations between omentin-1 and IBS:
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Patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) exhibit significantly lower serum omentin-1 levels compared to healthy controls
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Serum omentin-1 levels show a negative correlation with IBS-related quality of life (Pearson r = 0.646, p < 0.001)
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Lower serum omentin-1 levels are associated with more severe depression (r = –0.445, p = 0.002) and anxiety (r = –0.454, p < 0.001) among individuals with IBS
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After adjusting for confounding factors, serum omentin-1 levels remain significantly correlated with IBS-QOL and psychological symptoms
These findings highlight the potential value of serum omentin-1 levels as an innovative biomarker in IBS .
What are the therapeutic implications of omentin-1 research?
The protective properties of omentin-1 suggest several therapeutic applications:
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Omentin-1 supplementation may benefit IBS patients with psychological symptoms by improving intestinal inflammation and barrier function
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It shows promise as a therapeutic agent for preventing or treating depression by enhancing barrier function and maintaining an endogenous anti-inflammatory balance
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Studies have suggested that omentin may have protective effects against atherosclerosis, arterial calcification, and myocardial injury through AMP-activated pathways
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Its insulin-sensitizing properties suggest potential applications in metabolic disorders characterized by insulin resistance
What are the current limitations in omentin-1 research?
Several limitations have been identified in current omentin-1 research:
What are promising future research directions for omentin-1?
Based on current findings, several promising research directions emerge:
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Exploring the underlying mechanisms connecting omentin-1, systemic inflammation, and symptom severity in IBS and other conditions
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Investigating the therapeutic potential of omentin-1 supplementation in various disorders, building on animal studies showing improved intestinal inflammation in mice with colitis
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Conducting larger cohort studies to confirm existing correlations and ensure statistical robustness
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Examining the gender-specific protective effects of omentin-1 against metabolic disorders associated with obesity
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Developing standardized reference ranges for omentin-1 across different populations and clinical conditions
Product Science Overview
Omentin is predominantly expressed in visceral adipose tissue rather than subcutaneous tissue. The mRNA levels of omentin are significantly higher in visceral adipose tissue, being approximately 150 times higher compared to subcutaneous tissue . This protein is present in the stromal vascular cells within adipose tissue, rather than in adipocytes themselves .
Omentin enhances insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes, making it a crucial link between obesity and Type 2 Diabetes . It has been shown to play a protective role in the response to cardiovascular injury . Additionally, omentin interacts with bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) to regulate cardiomyocyte (CM) maturation. This interaction prevents BMP7 from binding to activin type II receptor B (ActRIIB), subsequently decreasing the downstream pathways involving mothers against DPP homolog 1 (SMAD1)/Yes-associated protein (YAP) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) .
Recombinant human omentin is produced using advanced biotechnological methods. It is typically derived from a mouse myeloma cell line (NS0) and is purified to a high degree, with a purity greater than 95% as determined by SDS-PAGE . The recombinant protein is often used in research to study its effects on various cell types and its potential therapeutic applications.
The role of omentin in enhancing insulin sensitivity and its protective effects on cardiovascular tissues make it a potential therapeutic target for treating metabolic disorders such as obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Furthermore, its involvement in cardiomyocyte maturation suggests that it could be important in developing treatments for heart diseases .
