Serum Adiponectin and Progranulin Levels are Associated with Gallstone Disease

Background/Aim: Aberrant adipokine serum concentrations are associated with a variety of obesity-related diseases. This study was designed to investigate the putative role of the adipokines adiponectin, chemerin, progranulin, vaspin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (AFABP) in gallstone disease. Methods: Serum levels of adiponectin, chemerin, progranulin, vaspin, FGF21 and AFABP of 189 gallstone patients and 833 healthy controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Increased adiponectin levels were nominally associated with lower gallstone risk in women (p = 0.036, odds ratio (OR) 0.47, 95 % confi dence interval (CI) [0.23; 0.95]). Furthermore progranulin serum concentrations in men were significantly elevated in gallstone carriers in comparison to controls (p = 0.012, OR 6.1, 95 % CI [1.5; 24.9]). Serum levels of chemerin, vaspin, FGF21 and AFABP did not differ between controls and subjects with gallstones. Conclusion: Our data further support a protective effect of adiponectin on gallstone risk and suggest a role of progranulin in the pathophysiology of cholelithiasis. Nevertheless, longitudinal data and functional analyses would be required to assess the pathogenetic link between gallstone formation and adipokine serum levels.