Resistin: Potential biomarker and therapeutic target in atherosclerosis

Resistin, a cysteine-rich secretory protein, has a pleiotropic role in humans. Resistin usually presents as trimer or hexamer in plasma, and targets specific receptors Toll Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) or Adenylyl Cyclase-Associated Protein 1 (CAP1). Upon binding to TLR4 and CAP1, resistin can trigger various intracellular signal transduction pathways to induce vascular inflammation, lipid accumulation, and plaque vulnerability. These proatherosclerotic effects of resistin appear in various cell types, including endothelial cells, vessel smooth muscle cells and macrophages, which cause diverse damages to cardiovascular system from dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis rupture and ventricular remodeling. In this review, we gather recent evidence about the proatherosclerotic effects of resistin and highlight it as a candidate therapeutic or diagnostic target for cardiovascular disease.

Automated summary

Resistin plays pleiotropic roles in humans by targeting receptors TLR4 and CAP1, triggering intracellular signal transduction pathways and inducing vascular inflammation, leading to damages to cardiovascular system. It is highlighted as a potential therapeutic or diagnostic target for cardiovascular disease.