title: Endocannabinoid (EC) receptor, CB1, and EC enzymes' expression in primary adipocyte cultures of lean and obese pre-pubertal children in relation to adiponectin and insulin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The over-expression of CB1 in adult obesity is associated with insulin resistance (IR),but it is not elucidated in childhood obesity. We studied CB1 and endocannabinoid enzymes (EE), Adiponectin (Ad), and Insulin (SI) in lean and obese pre-pubertal (PP) children.
  
  
  METHODS
  CB1 mRNA and protein (Pr) expression were studied by RT-PCR, western immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in primary cultures of adipose tissue. The EE(NAPE-PLD, DAGL-alpha, FAAH, MAGL) expression was assessed by Real-Time PCR. Ad and SI were measured by ELISA and IR by HOMA-IR index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the older obese vs older lean children: (1) CB1 Pr was decreased, (2) FAAHmRNA and DAGL-alpha mRNA were increased. Ad was decreased and SI and HOMA-IR increased in the older PP children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased CB1 and decreased adiponectin in older lean PP children may facilitate fat deposition and "physiologic" IR necessary for the increased body growth of puberty. The reduced expression of CB1 in the older obese may be an attempt to reduce lipogenesis to avoid greater insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras School of Medicine, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karvela
authors.forename: Andrea Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rojas-Gil
authors.forename: Efstratia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samkinidou
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Papadaki
authors.forename: Aliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Bessie E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Spiliotis
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D013851:Thinness / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D007328:Insulin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase