Nephrin is produced in visceral adipose tissue in humans and associates with insulin resistance
Authors' conclusion
Nephrin is ectopically produced in VAT. Circulating and urinary nephrin show opposite associations with insulin sensitivity, compatible with early nephrin loss into the urine and compensatory regulation of VAT derived nephrin.
Study context
- Population
- Subjects with obesity undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) (age 51 [41–57] yrs, M/F 6/34) and lean controls (age 43 [35–51] yrs, M/F 9/20); Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) from lean surgical patients as additional comparison
- Exposure
- Subjects with obesity vs lean controls
- Obesity (OS)n = 41
- HCn = 29reference
- Outcome
- Nephrin and podocin expression in SAT/VAT
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Podocin was not expressed in SAT or VAT
- Nephrin mRNA detected in VAT but not SAT
- Nephrin protein expression higher in OS
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Plasma nephrin
- Low plasma nephrin levels, directly associated with insulin sensitivity
Urinary nephrin
- Urinary nephrin inversely associated with insulin sensitivity, persisting two years after MBS
Original publication
Nephrin is produced in visceral adipose tissue in humans and associates with insulin resistance. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 8 May 2026. doi:10.
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