Abstract 3559: β2-adrenoceptor Protein Expression Is Different Between Buffy Coat And Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Background: Obesity and hypertension are associated with β2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms accompanying with heightened sympathetic nerve activity. In the present study we compared β2-adrenoceptor protein expression between buffy coats (white blood cells as a representive for whole-body) and abdominal subcutaneous fat to further evaluate the contributions of sympathetic nerve activity and β2-adrenoceptor to obesity and hypertension. Methods: In 17 obese normotensive Caucasian men (BMI≥30.0 kg/m2) and 8 age-matched lean Caucasian men (BMI<25 kg/m2), we measured BMI, blood pressure (BP), whole-body plasma norepinephrine (NE) spillover, NE clearance, plasma leptin, and β2-adrenoceptor protein concentration and leptin receptor protein concentration in buffy coats and in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. The β2-adrenoceptor protein expression and leptin receptor protein expression were analysed by Western blotting. Results: Obese subjects had significantly higher whole-body NE spillover (673±245 ng/mL vs. 431±156, P<0.05), plasma leptin (15.2±4.3 ng/mL vs. 4.8±2.4, P<0.01), and BP levels (P<0.05) compared to lean subjects, but the whole-body NE clearance rate was similar. Obese subjects had significantly greater expression of β2-adrenoceptor protein in buffy coats (P<0.05) compared to lean subjects, while they had significantly less β2-adrenoceptor protein expression in abdominal fat (P<0.05). Leptin receptor protein expression in both buffy coats and abdominal fat were greater in obese subjects compared to lean subjects. Conclusions: Obese subjects had greater β2-adrenoceptor protein expression in buffy coats, but less β2-adrenoceptor protein expression in fat. This may suggest that blunted sympathetic nerve activity in adipose tissue (observed by less β2-adrenoceptor protein expression in fat) might relate to obesity and heightened sympathetic nerve activity in whole-body (observed by greater β2-adrenoceptor protein expression in buffy coats and higher NE spillover) may be linked to hypertension. The findings support the concept of selective leptin resistance. Sympathetic nerve activity and β2-adrenoceptor, not leptin, plays an important role is mechanisms of obesity and obesity-related hypertension.