Resistin in amniotic fluid

Resistin, a novel adipocytokine, has been implicated in the regulation of the innate immune response. Specifically, resistin has pro-inflammatory properties that are abrogated by NF-kB inhibitor, indicating the importance of NF-kB signaling pathway for resistin-induced inflammation. Consistent with this view, circulating plasma resistin concentrations are increased in patients with sepsis, and it has been proposed that plasma concentrations of this adipocytokine can serve as a marker of sepsis severity. Resistin has also been detected in several body fluids, including saliva, urine and synovial fluid. Indeed, resistin accumulates in the inflamed joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its synovial concentrations correlate with other markers of inflammation. Recently, resistin was found to be a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid. In addition, high amniotic fluid resistin concentrations are associated with intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation, and amniotic fluid resistin concentrations are associated with well-established indices of intra-amniotic inflammation such as amniotic fluid interleukin (IL) 6 concentration and white blood cell count, as well as with amniocentesis-to-delivery interval. The strong association with intra-amniotic infection/inflammation has been corroborated in an unbiased, high-throughput proteomics analysis of amniotic fluid. The aim of this chapter is to present the available evidence regarding amniotic fluid resistin and to discuss their importance and possible implications.