AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Obesity is characterized by disturbed adipocytokine 
expression and insulin resistance in adipocytes. Growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) 
is a gene encoding the Gas6 protein, which is expressed in fibroblasts, and its 
related signaling might be associated with adipose tissue inflammation, glucose 
intolerance and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the 
associations among Gas6, adipocytokines and insulin resistance in adipocytes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mature Simpson Golabi Behmel Syndrome adipocytes were 
treated with high levels of insulin to mimic insulin resistance, and were 
examined for the expressions of Gas6, cytokines and adipocytokines from 
preadipocytes in differentiation. In an animal study, high-fat diet-induced 
obese mice were used to verify the Gas6 expression in vitro.
RESULTS: During the differentiation of adipocytes, the expression of Gas6 
gradually decreased, and was obviously downregulated with adipocyte inflammation 
and insulin resistance. Gas6 levels were found to be in proportion to the 
expression of adiponectin, which has been regarded as closely relevant to 
improved insulin sensitivity after metformin treatment. Similar results were 
also confirmed in the animal study.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Gas6 might modulate the expression of 
adiponectin, and might therefore be associated with insulin resistance in 
adipose tissues.