Abdominal adipose tissue associates with adiponectin and TNF in middle-aged healthy men

Abstract

Background and Aims : Backgroun: Adipokines, including adiponectin, visfatin and TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α, are highly active bio-peptides involved in glucose metabolism, insulin regulation and the development and progression of obesity and its associated diseases. It includes, among others Aim: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate whether gene expression levels in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of selected adipokines and their corresponding circulating levels associate with the amount of AT in superficial (sSAT), deep (dSAT) and visceral (VAT) AT, assessed by computed tomography (CT). Any association with glucometabolic variables were also exploredMethods: Methods: In 103 healthy Caucasian men, fasting venous blood and SAT samples from the gluteal region were collected. Ninety-four of the participants underwent CT assessment of the abdominal AT, which was divided into VAT and superficial - and deep subcutaneous AT (sSAT and dSAT). Circulating levels were measured by ELISA and AT gene-expression by PCR. Insulin sensitivity was determined by glucose clamp, assessing glucose disposal rate (GDR).Results: Results: Circulating adiponectin and TNF gene expression correlated inversely and positively to sSAT, dSAT and VAT (r=-0.266 to -0.276, p<0.05 for all) and (r=0.323 - 0.368, p<0.05 for all), respectively, with strongest correlations to the amount of AT in sSAT and dSAT. Circulating adiponectin correlated inversely to insulin, C-peptide and waist circumference (r=-456 to -0.373, p<0.001) and positively to GDR (r=0.356, p<0.001). AT-expressed visfatin correlated inversely to insulin and C-peptide (r=-0.370 and r=-0.404, p<0.001).Conclusions: Conclusion: Increased amount of AT is associated with low levels of adiponectin and increased levels of TNF. Background and Aims : Backgroun: Adipokines, including adiponectin, visfatin and TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α, are highly active bio-peptides involved in glucose metabolism, insulin regulation and the development and progression of obesity and its associated diseases. It includes, among others Aim: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate whether gene expression levels in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of selected adipokines and their corresponding circulating levels associate with the amount of AT in superficial (sSAT), deep (dSAT) and visceral (VAT) AT, assessed by computed tomography (CT). Any association with glucometabolic variables were also explored Methods: Methods: In 103 healthy Caucasian men, fasting venous blood and SAT samples from the gluteal region were collected. Ninety-four of the participants underwent CT assessment of the abdominal AT, which was divided into VAT and superficial - and deep subcutaneous AT (sSAT and dSAT). Circulating levels were measured by ELISA and AT gene-expression by PCR. Insulin sensitivity was determined by glucose clamp, assessing glucose disposal rate (GDR). Results: Results: Circulating adiponectin and TNF gene expression correlated inversely and positively to sSAT, dSAT and VAT (r=-0.266 to -0.276, p<0.05 for all) and (r=0.323 - 0.368, p<0.05 for all), respectively, with strongest correlations to the amount of AT in sSAT and dSAT. Circulating adiponectin correlated inversely to insulin, C-peptide and waist circumference (r=-456 to -0.373, p<0.001) and positively to GDR (r=0.356, p<0.001). AT-expressed visfatin correlated inversely to insulin and C-peptide (r=-0.370 and r=-0.404, p<0.001). Conclusions: Conclusion: Increased amount of AT is associated with low levels of adiponectin and increased levels of TNF.