Macrophage infiltration into omental versus subcutaneous fat across different populations: effect of regional adiposity and the comorbidities of obesity.
BACKGROUND
Macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue has been demonstrated to accompany obesity, with a potential preferential infiltration into intraabdominal vs. sc fat.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to determine whether this occurs across different populations with a range of body mass indexes and to assess the relationship with regional adiposity and comorbidity of obesity.


METHODS
In two independent cohorts, we used paired omental (OM) and sc fat biopsies from lean controls or predominantly sc or intraabdominally obese persons with minimal comorbidity (n = 60, cohort 1), or from severely obese women with a significant rate of comorbidity (n = 29, cohort 2).


RESULTS
Elevated macrophage infiltration into OM vs. sc fat was observable in lean subjects and exaggerated by obesity, particularly if predominantly intraabdominal. This was paralleled by increased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) and colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF1) mRNA levels. Level of CSF1 and MCP1 mRNA correlated with the number of OM macrophages (r = 0.521, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.258, P < 0.051, respectively). In severely obese women (mean body mass index = 43.0 +/- 1.1 kg/m(2)), higher protein expression of both MCP1 and CSF1 was detected in OM vs. sc fat. Number of OM macrophages, but not of sc macrophages, correlated with waist circumference (r = 0.636, P = 0.001 vs. r = 0.170, P = 0.427) and with the number of metabolic syndrome parameters (r = 0.385, P = 0.065 vs. r = -0.158, P = 0.472, respectively). Preferential macrophage infiltration into OM fat was mainly observed in a subgroup in whom obesity was associated with impaired glucose homeostasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Preferential macrophage infiltration into OM fat is a general phenomenon exaggerated by central obesity, potentially linking central adiposity with increased risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease.
Harman-Boehm
Ilana
I
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Blüher
Matthias
M
Redel
Henry
H
Sion-Vardy
Netta
N
Ovadia
Shira
S
Avinoach
Eliezer
E
Shai
Iris
I
Klöting
Nora
N
Stumvoll
Michael
M
Bashan
Nava
N
Rudich
Assaf
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D009852:Omentum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D050507:Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor