Effects of weight loss after bariatric surgery for morbid obesity on vascular endothelial growth factor-A, adipocytokines, and insulin.
BACKGROUND
Adipocytes regulate blood vessel formation, and in turn endothelial cells promote preadipocyte differentiation through the expression of proangiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A. Some adipocytokines and hormones also have an effect on vascular development.


OBJECTIVE
Our objectives were to analyze the relationship between weight and circulating VEGF-A in morbidly obese subjects before and after bariatric surgery, and investigate the relationship between circulating VEGF-A and certain adipocytokines and hormones regulating adipocytes.


METHODS
A total of 45 morbidly obese women and nine lean females were included in the study. Patients underwent bariatric surgery: vertical banded gastroplasty (n=17), gastric bypass (n=17), and biliopancreatic diversion (n=11). Serum samples for VEGF-A, adiponectin, leptin, ghrelin, and insulin were obtained preoperatively and 9-12 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Obese patients showed significantly higher VEGF-A levels than controls (306.3+/-170.3 vs. 187.6+/-91.9 pg/ml; P=0.04), decreasing to 246.1+/-160.4 after surgery (P<0.001), with no differences among surgical procedures. In controls there was an inverse correlation between VEGF-A and ghrelin (r=-0.85; P<.01), but not in obese patients. Leptin and insulin concentrations were increased in obese patients, with a significant decrease shown after weight loss with surgery. Conversely, adiponectin concentrations were lower in obese patients, with a significant increase shown after weight loss with surgery. Ghrelin was higher in controls than obese patients, decreasing after gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion, but not after vertical banded gastroplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum VEGF-A levels are significantly higher in obese patients than in lean controls, decreasing after weight loss with bariatric surgery, behaving similarly to other hormones related to adipose mass like leptin and insulin.
García de la Torre
Nuria
N
Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Clínico Universitario San Carlos, Martín Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. nurialobo@hotmail.com
Rubio
Miguel A
MA
Bordiú
Elena
E
Cabrerizo
Lucio
L
Aparicio
Eugenio
E
Hernández
Carmen
C
Sánchez-Pernaute
Andrés
A
Díez-Valladares
Luis
L
Torres
Antonio J
AJ
Puente
Montserrat
M
Charro
Aniceto L
AL
D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
D054392:Adipokines; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A