Chemerin and male reproduction: ‘a tangled rope’ connecting metabolism and inflammation

Adipokines are peptides produced mainly by the fat tissue adipocytes and their levels are sensitive to alterations in metabolic state. While there is little known about the impact of adipokines on male reproductive control, both animal-based experimental data and clinical research suggest that they can influence numerous male fertility indices. Chemerin is a newly found adipokine which is generally recognized as a chemoattractant and chemokine. Chemerin has been correlated with inflammatory reactions and metabolic imbalances, as seen in various metabolic syndromes. A sex dimorphic chemerin expression pattern has also been shown with greater levels in men in comparison to women. Chemerin can thus be offered as a potential new candidate in the connection among metabolic disorders, inflammation and male reproduction. The present article explores the multidimensional metabolic and inflammatory roles of chemerin and discusses its impact upon the male reproduction.