Iran J Med Sci. 2026 Aug 1;51(8):561-569. doi: 10.30476/ijms.2026.109872.4530. eCollection 2026 Aug.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Family with sequence similarity 19, member A5 (FAM19A5) is a secreted protein initially proposed as an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. However, recent evidence has challenged this view by demonstrating minimal adipose expression and suggesting that circulating FAM19A5 may instead increase in response to vascular stress and atherogenic progression. To clarify its relevance in obesity-related dyslipidemia, this study examined the association between circulating FAM19A5 and established lipid-based atherogenic indices in a diet-induced obesity model.
METHODS: This in vivo correlational study involved 14 male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=7 per group) conducted in Padang, Indonesia, in 2024. Rats were assigned to a control group (American Institute of Nutrition-93 diet) or an obesity group (high-fat and high-fructose diet) for 12 weeks. Serum FAM19A5 levels were measured by ELISA. Derived indices included the LDL/ApoB ratio, Castelli Risk Index I and II, and the HDL-based atherogenic index. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation (P<0.05), and all analyses were performed using SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp., USA).
RESULTS: FAM19A5 showed a strong positive correlation with the LDL/ApoB ratio (r=0.734, P<0.050), indicating that higher FAM19A5 levels coincide with more atherogenic ApoB-containing lipoprotein patterns. Correlations with Castelli Risk Index I (r=0.127, P>0.05), Castelli Risk Index II (r=0.369, P=0.195), and the HDL-based atherogenic index (r=0.127, P=0.666) were weak and not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: Elevated circulating FAM19A5 may serve as a potential biomarker reflecting ApoB-related lipid alterations during obesity progression.
PMID:42764881 | PMC:PMC13589815 | DOI:10.30476/ijms.2026.109872.4530