Elevated Plasma Level of Visfatin/Pre-B Cell Colony-Enhancing Factor in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Context: Visfatin (also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor or PBEF) is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and whose blood levels correlate with obesity. Originally isolated as a secreted factor that promotes the growth of B cell precursors and recently found to act as an insulin analog on the insulin receptor, its pathophysiological role in humans remains largely unknown. Objectives: In this study we investigated whether plasma visfatin level is altered in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Design and Patients: Plasma visfatin as well as adiponectin and resistin concentrations were measured through ELISA in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Results: A total of 61 patients with T2DM and 59 sex- and age-matched nondiabetic subjects were studied. Plasma visfatin was found to be elevated in patients with T2DM (31.9 ± 31.7 vs. 15.8 ± 16.7 ng/ml, P = 0.002). In contrast, adiponectin was decreased (4.3 ± 2.5 vs. 30.8 ± 10.3 μg/ml, P < 0.001), whereas plasma resistin ...