Role of gremlin-1 in the pathophysiology of the adipose tissues

Elisabetta Grillo; Cosetta Ravelli; Georgia Colleluori; Francesco D'Agostino; Mattia Domenichini; Antonio Giordano; Stefania Mitola

doi:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2022.09.004

Role of gremlin-1 in the pathophysiology of the adipose tissues

Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2023 Feb:69:51-60. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2022.09.004. Epub 2022 Sep 14.

Authors

Elisabetta Grillo¹, Cosetta Ravelli², Georgia Colleluori³, Francesco D'Agostino², Mattia Domenichini², Antonio Giordano³, Stefania Mitola²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: elisabetta.grillo@unibs.it.
² Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
³ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60020 Ancona, Italy.

PMID: 36155165
DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2022.09.004

Abstract

Gremlin-1 is a secreted bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist playing a pivotal role in the regulation of tissue formation and embryonic development. Since its first identification in 1997, gremlin-1 has been shown to be a multifunctional factor involved in wound healing, inflammation, cancer and tissue fibrosis. Among others, the activity of gremlin-1 is mediated by its interaction with BMPs or with membrane receptors such as the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) or heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). Growing evidence has highlighted a central role of gremlin-1 in the homeostasis of the adipose tissue (AT). Of note, gremlin-1 is involved in AT dysfunction during type 2 diabetes, obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) metabolic disorders. In this review we discuss recent findings on gremlin-1 involvement in AT biology, with particular attention to its role in metabolic diseases, to highlight its potential as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target.

Keywords: Adipose tissue; Gremlin-1; Metabolic disorders; Obesity.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
Humans
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Substances

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins