Visceral adipose tissue zinc finger protein 36 mRNA levels are correlated with insulin, insulin resistance index, and adiponectinemia in women.
BACKGROUND
Adipose tissue is now recognized as an endocrine organ and secretes numerous molecules and proteins potentially involved in the physiopathology of the metabolic syndrome. Recently, we have determined the transcriptome of omental adipose tissue, leading to the identification of a new candidate gene for obesity-related metabolic complications, zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36), which is known to down-regulate tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-alpha) expression.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to further examine the relationship between ZFP36 gene expression levels, obesity-related phenotypes, and adipokines.


METHODS
Abdominal subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue samples were obtained from 46 women undergoing elective gynecological surgery. Adipose tissue ZFP36 mRNA abundance was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Body fat accumulation and distribution were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography. Fasting blood levels of glucose, insulin, and lipids, and circulating TNF-alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), resistin, and adiponectin were also measured.


RESULTS
No correlation was observed between s.c. ZFP36 mRNA levels and any of the phenotypes tested. However, although omental ZFP36 mRNA levels were not correlated with measures of body fatness and lipid profile, they were negatively correlated with fasting insulin levels (R = -0.31; P = 0.05), the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR; R = -0.31; P = 0.05), and 2-h post-glucose insulinemia (R = -0.32; P = 0.05). Omental ZFP36 mRNA abundance was also positively correlated with adiponectinemia (R = 0.35; P = 0.03) but not with circulating TNF-alpha, IL-6, and resistin concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that ZFP36 gene expression in omental adipose tissue, but not in abdominal s.c. fat, may offer partial protection against the development of insulin resistance and diabetes.
Bouchard
Luigi
L
Lipid Research Center, Laval University, Québec, Canada.
Vohl
Marie-Claude
MC
Deshaies
Yves
Y
Rhéaume
Caroline
C
Daris
Marleen
M
Tchernof
André
A
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009852:Omentum / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D050507:Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism; D051816:Tristetraprolin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D007328:Insulin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051816:Tristetraprolin