Is Resistin A Biomarker for Periodontitis - An Insight
Bhuvaneswari Birla Bose1, N. Aravindha Babu2, K. M. K. Masthan2

1Department of Periodontics, Tagore Dental College and Hospital. 2Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath University , Chennai.

Abstract: Resistin is a recently discovered adipocytokine, having a potent biomarker quality. Initially resistin was thought to be produced by adipocytes alone; however, emerging evidence suggests that it is also produced in abundance by various cells of the immunoinflammatory system, indicating its role in various chronic inflammatory diseases. Data suggests that resistin plays a role in obesity, insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, and periodontitis. Resistin derived its name from the original observation that it induced insulin resistance (resist-in: resist insulin) in mice and is downregulated in mature murine adipocytes cultured in the presence of insulin sensitizing drugs like thiazolidinediones. It is well recognized that obesity, is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. Research shows incremental elevation of resistin with periodontal disease activity and a reduced level of resistin, after periodontal therapy. Thus resistin would be one of the molecular links connecting obesity, periodontitis, and diabetes and may serve as a marker that links periodontal disease with other systemic diseases.

Keywords: Resistin; adipocytokine; periodontitis; obesity; biomarker

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