title: Lack of evidence for the role of human adenovirus-36 in obesity in a European cohort.
abstract: Adenovirus infection has been shown to increase adiposity in chickens, mice, and nonhuman primates. Adenovirus type 36 (Ad-36) DNA was detected in adipose tissues in these animal trials. In the United States, Ad-36 significantly correlates with obesity as illustrated by an Ad-36 seroprevalence of 30% in obese individuals and 11% in nonobese individuals. We investigated the possibility of a similar correlation of Ad-36 in Dutch and Belgian persons. In total, 509 serum samples were analyzed for Ad-36 antibodies using a serum neutralization assay. In addition, PCR was used to detect adenoviral DNA in visceral adipose tissue of 31 severely obese surgical patients. Our results indicated an overall Ad-36 seroprevalence of 5.5% increasing with age. BMI of Ad-36 seropositive humans was not significantly different from seronegative humans. No adenoviral DNA could be found using PCR on visceral adipose tissue. In conclusion, this first Ad-36 study in the Netherlands and in Belgium indicates that Ad-36 does not play a role as a direct cause of BMI increase and obesity in humans in Western Europe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. v.goossens@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Valère J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Steve A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: deJager
authors.forename: Gert E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Grauls
authors.forename: Marij
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Vlietinck
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Derom
authors.forename: Ruth J F
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Loos
authors.forename: Sander S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rensen
authors.forename: Wim A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Buurman
authors.forename: Jan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: Marleen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Baak
authors.forename: Petra F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wolffs
authors.forename: Cathrien A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bruggeman
authors.forename: Christian J P A
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hoebe
mesh_terms: D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral