Chemerin
Chemerin is an inflammatory signalling protein released by fat tissue that is elevated in obesity and linked to insulin resistance.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Chemerin is a signalling protein produced mainly by fat tissue that helps regulate inflammation and metabolism. Levels are higher in people with obesity and fall as weight is lost. It is one of several molecules that show how excess fat is not inert — it actively communicates with the rest of the body.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Chemerin is an adipokine secreted predominantly by white adipose tissue that acts through the chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) to regulate adipocyte differentiation, angiogenesis and immune-cell recruitment. Circulating chemerin is elevated in obesity and correlates positively with visceral adiposity, insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome, and it decreases after weight loss and bariatric surgery. It is implicated in the adipose-tissue inflammation that links obesity to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, though it is not yet a routine clinical test.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Chemerin matters less as a number and more as a lesson: fat tissue is active, not just stored energy. When patients understand that losing weight lowers these inflammatory signals, the health benefits of even a 5 percent loss make intuitive sense.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: September 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.
