Post-ERCP Pancreatitis and Serum Asprosin: A Potential Marker Associated with Beta Cell Damage

Abstract

Aim: Asprosin is a protein produced by adipose tissue that has a significant function in regulating glucose metabolism. Inflammation in pancreatitis leads to beta cell damage and deterioration of beta cell functions. Recent studies have shown a relationship between asprosin and pancreatic beta cell damage. This research aimed to examine the association between pancreatitis developing after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and asprosin levels, which is also considered an indicator of beta cell damage. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with 25 patients who developed pancreatitis after ERCP and 21 participants as a control group at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed through correlation of clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings. In addition, the post-ERCP pancreatitis group was classified as “mild” and “moderate-severe” according to disease severity, and asprosin levels were compared between the groups. Correlations between asprosin and biochemical and hematological parameters were analyzed. Results: Serum asprosin concentrations were elevated in the post-ERCP pancreatitis group (p < 0,001). Amylase, lipase, GGT, AST, total and direct bilirubin levels also increased significantly in the pancreatitis group. In the pancreatitis group, a negative correlation was observed between asprosin levels and leukocyte (r = -0.433; p = 0.031) and lymphocyte counts (r = -0.440; p = 0.028). No meaningful correlation was observed between asprosin concentrations and the severity of pancreatitis (p = 0,347). Conclusion: In patients with post-ERCP pancreatitis, asprosin levels are increased, which could potentially be associated with the inflammatory response. However, asprosin does not seem to directly reflect disease severity. Therefore, asprosin can be considered as a new biomarker candidate associated with pancreatic beta cell damage and inflammation; however, Additional research is required to elucidate its diagnostic and prognostic role.

Keywords

• Pancreatitis
• Asprosin
• Beta Cell
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

ERCP Sonrası Pankreatit ve Serum Asprosin Düzeyi: Beta Hücre Hasarı ile İlişkili Potansiyel Bir Belirteç

Abstract

Amaç: Asprosin, yağ dokusu tarafından üretilen ve glikoz metabolizmasını düzenlemede önemli rolü olan bir proteindir. Pankreatitte inflamasyon beta hücre hasarına ve beta hücre fonksiyonlarının bozulmasına yol açar. Son çalışmalar asprosin ile pankreas beta hücre hasarı arasında bir ilişki olduğunu göstermiştir. Bu araştırma, endoskopik retrograd kolanjiyopankreatografi (ERCP) sonrasında gelişen pankreatit ile beta hücre hasarının bir göstergesi olarak kabul edilen asprosin seviyeleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Çalışma Ankara Bilkent Şehir Hastanesi'nde ERCP sonrası pankreatit gelişen 25 hasta ve kontrol grubu olarak 21 katılımcı ile yürütüldü. Akut pankreatit tanısı klinik, görüntüleme ve laboratuvar bulgularının korelasyonu ile konuldu. Ayrıca, ERCP sonrası pankreatit grubu hastalık şiddetine göre “hafif” ve “orta-şiddetli” olarak sınıflandırıldı ve asprosin seviyeleri gruplar arasında karşılaştırıldı. Asprosin ile biyokimyasal ve hematolojik parametreler arasındaki korelasyonlar analiz edildi. Bulgular: Serum asprosin konsantrasyonları ERCP sonrası pankreatit grubunda yüksekti (p < 0,001). Amilaz, lipaz, GGT, AST, toplam ve direkt bilirubin seviyeleri de pankreatit grubunda anlamlı şekilde arttı. Pankreatit grubunda, asprosin seviyeleri ile lökosit (r = -0,433; p = 0,031) ve lenfosit sayıları (r = -0,440; p = 0,028) arasında negatif bir korelasyon gözlendi. Asprosin konsantrasyonları ile pankreatit şiddeti arasında anlamlı bir korelasyon gözlenmedi (p = 0,347). Sonuç: Post-ERCP pankreatitli hastalarda asprosin düzeyleri artar ve bu potansiyel olarak inflamatuar yanıtla ilişkilendirilebilir. Ancak asprosin düzeylerinin hastalığın şiddetini doğrudan yansıtmadığı düşünülmektedir. Bu nedenle asprosin pankreas beta hücre hasarı ve inflamasyonuyla ilişkili yeni bir biyobelirteç adayı olarak düşünülebilir; ancak tanısal ve prognostik rolünü açıklamak için ek araştırmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

• Pankreatit
• Asprosin
• Beta Hücresi
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Endoskopik Retrograd Kolanjiyopankreatografi

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