Novel Metabolic Panel in Metabolic Syndrome

MetS is a multifaceted disease that embraces multiple disorders such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension. These disorders are characterized by specific metabolic aberrations presenting at different stages, which can be detected and monitored through a wide panel of serum biomarkers. Providing a minimally invasive technique thus can help greatly in the prediction, early screening and management of metabolic syndrome in high-risk communities and minimize its complications.

However, no sole biomarker is sensitive nor distinct for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, arousing the necessity of performing a panel that includes related biomarkers.

Metabolic biomarkers associated with metabolic syndrome are released primarily due to lipid accumulation and the dysregulated production of adipokines (ex. leptin, adiponectin) or oxidative stress brought on by obesity (ex. malondialdehyde, F-2 isoprostanes, paraoxonase, and oxidized LDL) or the associated inflammatory reaction (ex.IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), uric acid as well as heparanase).

Since obesity and insulin resistance are the cornerstones in metabolic syndrome pathogenesis, Leptin, an adipokine whose function is to reduce appetite and increase energy expenditure, and adiponectin represent striking biomarkers for metabolic syndrome.

In addition, the importance of uric acid, the product of purine metabolism, as a prooxidant inflammatory marker that contributes to metabolic syndrome pathogenesis has also been elucidated in multiple studies.

Recently, a newly discovered metabolic syndrome biomarker, ‘’Heparanase (HPA)” is closely related to the degradation of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) and is associated with inflammatory responses as it could be secreted by various immune cells including macrophages.

Since many studies have denoted the role of many biomarkers related to metabolic syndrome, this chapter will highlight the newly discovered ones that will help in the construction of a metabolic panel that could pave the way to precision medicine and help personalize the treatment given to metabolic syndrome patients.

Keywords: Asprosin, Adipokines, GGT, Leptin, Metabolic syndrome, Oxidative stress, Obesity, Subfatin, Visfatin.