ABSTRACT
Resistin, a novel adipocytokine, has been implicated in the regulation of the innate immune response. Specifi cally, resistin has pro-infl ammatory properties that are abrogated by NF-κB inhibitor, indicating the importance of NF-κB signaling pathway for resistin-induced infl ammation. 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 fl uids, including saliva, urine and synovial fl uid. Indeed, resistin accumulates in the infl amed joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its synovial concentrations correlate with other markers of infl ammation. Recently, resistin was found to be a physiological constituent of amniotic fl uid. In addition, high amniotic fl uid resistin concentrations are associated with intra-amniotic infection and/or infl ammation, and amniotic fl uid resistin concentrations are associated with well-established indices of intra-amniotic infl ammation such as amniotic fl uid interleukin (IL) 6 concentration and white blood cell count, as well as with amniocentesis-to-delivery interval. Th e strong association with intra-amniotic infection/infl ammation has been corroborated in an unbiased, high-throughput proteomics analysis of amniotic fl uid. Th e aim of this chapter is to present the
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available evidence regarding amniotic fl uid resistin and to discuss their importance and possible implications.
