The role of orosomucoid in glucose and lipid metabolism and metabolic diseases

Dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism is closely linked to metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and diabetic nephropathy, posing serious threats to human health. Orosomucoid (ORM), an acute-phase protein, exhibits diverse biological functions such as immunomodulation, drug transport, and barrier maintenance. Accumulating evidence has recently revealed ORM's critical regulatory role in metabolic processes. Studies indicate that ORM modulates glucose and lipid metabolism through multiple mechanisms, including regulating food intake, attenuating adipose tissue inflammation and fibrosis, inhibiting adipocyte differentiation and hepatic steatosis, and promoting glycogen synthesis. This review systematically examines the regulatory mechanisms of ORM expression under inflammatory and metabolic stress conditions, the effects of ORM on glucose and lipid homeostasis, and its clinical associations with metabolic diseases. These insights could inform innovative strategies for preventing and treating metabolic diseases.