Lack of evidence for the role of human adenovirus-36 in obesity in a European cohort.
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.
Goossens
Valère J
VJ
Department of Medical Microbiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. v.goossens@mumc.nl
deJager
Steve A
SA
Grauls
Gert E
GE
Gielen
Marij
M
Vlietinck
Robert F
RF
Derom
Catherine A
CA
Loos
Ruth J F
RJ
Rensen
Sander S
SS
Buurman
Wim A
WA
Greve
Jan W
JW
van Baak
Marleen A
MA
Wolffs
Petra F
PF
Bruggeman
Cathrien A
CA
Hoebe
Christian J P A
CJ
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
D004279:DNA, Viral