title: Adiponectin gene expression and adipocyte diameter: a comparison between epicardial and subcutaneous adipose tissue in men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interest has recently focused on epicardial fat, but little is known about epicardial adipocyte size and its relation with insulin resistance and adipokines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsies were collected from subcutaneous, epicardial-, and peritoneal fat from 21 males undergoing elective cardiac surgery either for coronary artery bypass grafting (n=11) or for valve replacement (n=10). We assessed epicardial adipocyte size, comparing it with that from subcutaneous fat and peritoneal fat. The adipocyte size was determined by using collagenase digestion of adipose tissue, separation of adipocytes by centrifugation, methylene blue staining of the nuclei, and measurement of the cell diameter. Patient's weight, height, body mass index, waist, as well as glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment index, adiponectin, and leptin serum levels were determined. Adiponectin mRNA levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction on subcutaneous fat and epicardial fat biopsies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adipocytes in epicardial fat were significantly smaller than those in subcutaneous and peritoneal fat. The adipocyte size in epicardial fat correlated positively with insulin resistance and serum leptin, and correlated negatively with serum and mRNA expression of adiponectin. Adiponectin mRNA expression in epicardial fat was significantly lower than in subcutaneous fat. Adipocyte size in epicardial fat was significantly smaller in valve-replacement patients than in coronary artery bypass graft patients. Adiponectin gene expression was lower in the latter than in the former, although not significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adipocytes in epicardial fat are smaller than those in peritoneal and subcutaneous fat. Adipocyte size, both in epicardial and in subcutaneous fat, is positively related with insulin resistance, shows negative association with local adiponectin gene expression, and is decreased in subjects with coronary artery disease. Adiponectin gene expression is significantly lower in epicardial- than in subcutaneous fat.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. clara.bambace@gmail.com
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bambace
authors.forename: Mariassunta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Telesca
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zoico
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sepe
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olioso
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corzato
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Francesco
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzucco
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zamboni
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D020738:Leptin