Abstract
BackgroundAdipokines in serum derive mainly from subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), being a relatively small but unique fat depot, probably does not make an important contribution to systemic concentrations of adipokines. However, proximity of EAT to cardiac muscle and coronary arteries allows cells and proteins to penetrate between tissues. It is hypothesized that overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines in EAT plays an important role in pathophysiology of the heart. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between echocardiographic heart parameters and adipokines in plasma, epicardial, and subcutaneous fat in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Additionally, we evaluate proinflammatory properties of EAT by comparing that depot with subcutaneous adipose tissue.MethodsThe study included 55 male individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent planned coronary artery bypass graft. Plasma concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, apelin, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as their mRNA and protein expressions in EAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were determined.ResultsObesity and diabetes were associated with increased leptin and decreased adiponectin plasma levels, higher protein expression of leptin and IL-6 in SAT, and higher visfatin protein expression in EAT. Impaired left ventricular (LV) diastolic function was associated with increased plasma concentrations of leptin, resistin, IL-6, and adiponectin, as well as with increased expressions of resistin, apelin, and adiponectin in SAT, and leptin in EAT.ConclusionsObesity and T2DM in individuals with CAD have a limited effect on adipokines. Expression of adipokines in EAT and SAT is linked to certain heart parameters, however diastolic dysfunction of the LV is strongly associated with circulating adipokines.
Highlights
Adipokines in serum derive mainly from subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues
As we discovered in regression analysis, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is negatively correlated with ejection fraction (EF), but we found no such correlations for interleukin 6 (IL-6) and visfatin
The results of our study suggest that obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) have a limited effect on plasma concentrations and fat tissue expressions of adipokines
Summary
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), being a relatively small but unique fat depot, probably does not make an important contribution to systemic concentrations of adipokines. Proximity of EAT to cardiac muscle and coronary arteries allows cells and proteins to penetrate between tissues. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between echocardiographic heart parameters and adipokines in plasma, epicardial, and subcutaneous fat in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Its mass is relatively small and it probably does not make a significant contribution to systemic adipokine concentrations, as opposed to much bigger visceral and subcutaneous fat depots. The exact role of EAT in heart disease in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear mainly because data on adipokine expression in EAT is scarce
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