Endocrinology & Metabolic Syndrome
Open Access

Abstract

Chemerin in Liver Diseases

Buechler C

Chemerin is a chemoattractant protein and moreover has a role in adipogenesis, angiogenesis and glucose homeostasis. Chemerin is primarily synthesized and secreted by adipocytes and hepatocytes. Chemerin receptors chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), G-protein coupled receptor 1 (GPR1) and CC-motif chemokine receptorlike 2 (CCRL2) are all expressed in the liver suggesting that chemerin may be relevant in liver physiology and pathophysiology. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity and is the most common cause of chronic liver injury. NAFLD and chronic hepatitis C virus infection are risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatic and serum chemerin have been analyzed in human and rodent NAFLD, in patients with chronic hepatitis C and patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Chemerin, GPR1 and CMKLR1 deficient mice have been used to elucidate the role of these proteins in body weight gain and glucose homeostasis. The regulation of chemerin and CMKLR1 by adipokines, hormones and cytokines relevant in liver diseases has been studied in hepatocytes. The data published so far are briefly summarized herein. Current experimental findings do not provide evidence for a crucial role of chemerin in chronic liver diseases and further research is needed to evaluate a possible protective function of this protein in hepatocellular carcinoma.