The role of visfatin (PBEF/Nampt) in pregnancy complications

Authors

PAVLOVÁ Tereza NOVÁK Jan BIENERTOVÁ VAŠKŮ Julie

Year of publication 2015
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Journal of Reproductive Immunology
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2015.09.004
Field Immunology
Keywords Preterm labor; Pre-eclampsia; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Maternal plasma; Sirtuins; Visfatin
Description Visfatin (PBEF/Nampt) is an adipocytokine that exerts pleiotropic effects within the human body, particularly affecting its metabolism and immunity. Visfatin was originally identified as being secreted by peripheral blood lymphocytes acting as a pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF). However, it was subsequently reported to be expressed in almost every tissue of the human body, with visceral fat deposits being the main source of visfatin. In addition to its secreted form, visfatin may also be found intracellularly where it functions as a nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt). Visfatin maternal plasma concentrations increase during pregnancy, suggesting its important role in this complicated process. Alterations in visfatin level also take place in patients during pregnancy complications. This review focuses on the ones that most commonly occur in connection with visfatin: preterm labor, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus. The review aims to provide a better understanding of the role of visfatin during pregnancy and the causes of its alteration in maternal plasma, highlighting the potential use of visfatin as a diagnostic marker of pregnancy complications in the future. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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