The contribution of omental adipose tissue to adipokine concentrations in patients with the metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in peripheral vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL6) and cortisol concentrations between patients with both visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome, and lean controls. In a subsample of metabolic patients underwent abdominal surgery, the adipokine concentrations were measured in venous blood from the omentum to determine information on some processes of synthesis.


METHODS
Forty-two healthy lean controls and 46 overweight-obese patients with central adiposity and stigmata of metabolic syndrome were studied. In a subsample of 11 metabolic patients undergoing non-bariatric surgery, blood samples from omental and peripheral veins were taken intraoperatively to determine VEGF, IL6 and cortisol concentrations.


RESULTS
Median levels (range) of peripheral VEGF and IL6 were higher in patients than in controls [31.5 (3-112) pg/mL vs 21.35 (9-41.9) pg/mL (P < 0.05) and 5.50 (1.40-13) pg/mL vs 1.15 (0.3-1) pg/mL (P < 0.0001)]. On the other hand, concentrations of VEGF and IL6 from the omental and peripheral veins were similar in the surgery sub-group. Peripheral cortisol concentrations were not higher in patients than in controls, nor were omental concentrations different from the peripheral. Omental and peripheral VEGF and cortisol values were correlated, whereas no association was found between omental and peripheral IL6.


CONCLUSIONS
In the presence of abdominal obesity, VEGF and IL6 concentrations are increased in the systemic circulation. The contribution of visceral adipose tissue to circulating levels of VEGF and IL6 was modest.
Tarantino
Giovanni
G
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University Medical School of Naples, Italy. tarantin@unina.it
Lobello
Roberto
R
Scopacasa
Francesco
F
Contaldo
Franco
F
Pasanisi
Fabrizio
F
Cirillo
Michele
M
De Caterina
Maurizio
M
Conca
Paolo
P
Terracciano
Daniela
D
Gennarelli
Nicola
N
Ariello
Manuela
M
Mazzarella
Claudia
C
Grimaldi
Ernesto
E
Macchia
Vincenzo
V
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D054392:Adipokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D006854:Hydrocortisone