FABP 4 is associated with inflammatory markers and metabolic syndrome in morbidly obese women.
OBJECTIVE
The adipocyte/macrophage fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been described as a biomarker for adiposity and metabolic syndrome (MS). The aims of this study were to assess the relationship between FABP4 and inflammatory cytokines related to obesity, and to evaluate FABP4 mRNA expression in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in non-diabetic morbidly obese women versus healthy lean women.


METHODS
We analyzed circulating levels of FABP4 in 81 Spanish women: 38 lean (body mass index (BMI)<25 kg/m(2)) and 43 morbidly obese (BMI>40 kg/m(2)). We took 30 follow-up blood samples at 6 and 12 months after bariatric surgery. We assessed FABP4 gene expression in samples of subcutaneous abdominal and visceral adipose tissue. Adipose tissue mRNA expression was determined by real-time RT-PCR.


RESULTS
In morbidly obese women, plasma FABP4 levels were significantly higher than in non-obese patients. These levels positively correlated with BMI, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), and plasma glucose and insulin levels. Post-operative FABP4 levels decreased by a maximum of 30% after 12 months. We also found an inverse association between FABP4 and adiponectin levels, and positive correlations between FABP4 and circulating leptin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 levels. Linear regression analysis revealed that FABP4 was more closely related to HOMA2-IR than adiponectin, CRP, TNF-RI, or leptin. Furthermore, high circulating FABP4 levels were associated with the presence of MS. FABP4 mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue was related to its circulating levels in morbidly obese women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that serum FABP4 is associated with inflammatory factors related to obesity and MS in non-diabetic morbidly obese women.
Grup de Recerca en Medicina Aplicada Hospital Joan XXIII, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), IISPV, Edifici Modular Planta 1, Mallafré Guasch, 4, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. ximena.terra@urv.cat
Ximena
X
Terra
Yunuen
Y
Quintero
Teresa
T
Auguet
Jose Antonio
JA
Porras
Mercé
M
Hernández
Fátima
F
Sabench
Carmen
C
Aguilar
Anna María
AM
Luna
Daniel
D
Del Castillo
Cristobal
C
Richart
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D016207:Cytokines; C493410:FABP4 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D002097:C-Reactive Protein