title: Expression and activity of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue of prepubertal children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucocorticoid excess promotes visceral obesity and cardiovascular disease. Ligand availability to the glucocorticoid receptor is controlled by isoforms of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) which converts endogenous cortisone to active cortisol.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression and activity of 11beta-HSD1 in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SC) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in prepubertal children with normal weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients (11 female/3 male) with a mean age of 6.9+/-0.9 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 17.4+/-0.61 underwent elective open abdominal surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of 11beta-HSD1 mRNA in SC and VAT was similar (0.8+/-0.15 vs. 0.61+/-0.12 AU). The activity of this enzyme in SC was significantly lower compared to VAT (1.42+/-0.39 vs. 2.79+/-0.61 ng cortisol/g tissue/24 h, p<0.05). In addition, we observed a significant direct correlation with the expression of 11beta-HSD1 in VAT adipose tissue with the patient's BMI (r=0.825, p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This correlation together with the increased activity of this enzyme in visceral adipose tissue might contribute to decreased hepatic insulin sensitivity due to increased portal cortisol when BMI increases. These observations appear to be particularly important in children born with low birth weight who develop rapid early weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. vmericq@med.uchile.cl
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mericq
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Carolien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouwman
authors.forename: M Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iñiguez
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000201:enzymology; D002648:Child; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000201:enzymology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; C468386:HSD11B1 protein, human; D006854:Hydrocortisone