Body mass index-related human adipocyte agouti expression is sex-specific but not depot-specific.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if human adipocyte agouti signal protein (ASIP) mRNA expression is associated with obesity and is gender and/or depot specific.


METHODS
Subjects included 8 men (64 +/- 3 years) and 14 women (56 +/- 15 years) undergoing elective abdominal surgery. ASIP mRNA levels in isolated omental and subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
No significant depot difference was observed between genders; ASIP mRNA levels of omental and subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes were pooled for this analysis. BMI and ASIP gene expression were negatively correlated in men (rho = -0.70; p < 0.05), whereas a positive relationship was observed in women (rho = 0.48; p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in age, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference between groups. Hip circumference was significantly higher in women than in men (p < 0.05). Also, no significant difference in ASIP mRNA expression was observed between men and women, regardless of the fat depot.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that men and women of similar age and BMI present similar ASIP mRNA levels in omental and subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes. However, a sexual dimorphism exists in the relationship between ASIP expression and BMI. If ASIP is involved in appetite regulation or energy homeostasis in humans, this observation may contribute to the recognized differences in these parameters between men and women.
Voisey
Joanne
J
Cooperative Research Centre for Diagnostic Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
Imbeault
Pascal
P
Hutley
Louise
L
Prins
John B
JB
van Daal
Angela
A
D000005:Abdomen; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D000368:Aged; D054366:Agouti Signaling Protein; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D009852:Omentum; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D054366:Agouti Signaling Protein; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger