Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1: a possible link between visceral adipose tissue-associated inflammation and subclinical echocardiographic abnormalities in uncomplicated obesity.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity can be considered a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation. Particularly, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) seems to be an active compartment in pro-inflammatory molecule secretion. Adipocytes and VAT are able to produce large amounts of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), a chemokine directly involved in ventricular remodeling.


METHODS
In this study, the possible existence of a correlation between MCP-1, abdominal fat accumulation and echocardiographic abnormalities in uncomplicated obesity was investigated.


METHODS
Echocardiographic parameters, MCP-1 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assessed in 27 normotensive obese women of fertile age (body mass index 43.5 +/- 4.8 kg/m2, mean +/- s.d.) and 15 normal weight women. Visceral fat (VAT) in the obese group was assessed by computed tomography.


RESULTS
Obese patients had higher MCP-1 (P < 0.0001) and CRP (P < 0.0001) levels than controls. MCP-1 levels were correlated with VAT area (r = 0.57, P < 0.0001), CRP (P < 0.0001), left ventricular mass (LVM) (P < 0.02), LVM indexed for height (P < 0.03), end-diastolic posterior wall (P < 0.005), relative wall thickness (P < 0.01), early diastolic filling wave velocity (P < 0.01), isovolumetric relaxation time (P < 0.001) and deceleration time (P < 0,01). Obese patients with greater amounts of VAT (> 130 cm2) presented higher MCP-1 (P < 0.0001) and CRP levels (P < 0.04) than those with a lower degree of abdominal adiposity.


CONCLUSIONS
MCP-1 levels and visceral adipose tissue seem to be associated with some morphological and functional echocardiographic abnormalities and support a role for visceral fat in predisposing the subject to cardiac dysfunction, possibly through a low-grade state of inflammation.
Malavazos
Alexis E
AE
Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Milano, Policlinico San Donato, Via Morandi 30, I-20097 San Donato, Milano, Italy.
Cereda
Emanuele
E
Morricone
Lelio
L
Coman
Calin
C
Corsi
Massimiliano M
MM
Ambrosi
Bruno
B
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*
C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D002097:C-Reactive Protein