Visceral adiposity and endothelial lipase.
BACKGROUND
Overexpression of endothelial lipase (EL) has been shown to reduce plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in animal models. However, the extent to which EL contributes to modulate the deteriorated high-density lipoprotein profile observed in obesity in humans is less clear.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to investigate the association between levels of obesity and visceral adiposity in particular and plasma EL concentrations.


METHODS
Postheparin plasma EL concentrations were measured by ELISA and visceral adiposity by computed tomography in a sample of 80 sedentary men in good health. EL mRNA levels in abdominal sc and omental adipose tissues obtained during abdominal hysterectomies were measured in another sample of 14 women.


RESULTS
Plasma EL levels were positively correlated with body mass index (R = 0.46, P < 0.0001), visceral adipose tissue accumulation (R = 0.44, P < 0.0001), and a proatherogenic lipid profile including increased plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. However, EL mRNA levels were similar in sc and omental AT and were 10,000-fold lower than lipoprotein lipase mRNA levels in those tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased visceral adiposity is significantly correlated with elevated plasma EL levels, but this association is unlikely to be causal and may reflect other common metabolic alterations.
Paradis
Marie-Eve
ME
Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Institute, 2440 Boulevard Hochelaga, Laval University, Québec, Canada.
Badellino
Karen O
KO
Rader
Daniel J
DJ
Tchernof
André
A
Richard
Christian
C
Luu-The
Van
V
Deshaies
Yves
Y
Bergeron
Jean
J
Archer
Wiedad R
WR
Couture
Patrick
P
Bergeron
Nathalie
N
Lamarche
Benoît
B
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000201:enzymology*; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009852:Omentum / Q000201:enzymology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014280:Triglycerides; C410382:LIPG protein, human; D008049:Lipase