title: Visceral fat accumulation is an indicator of adipose tissue macrophage infiltration in women.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that visceral obesity is the best correlate of abdominal adipose tissue macrophage infiltration in women. Omental and subcutaneous fat samples were surgically obtained from 40 women (age, 47.0 ± 4.0 years; body mass index, 28.4 ± 5.8 kg/m(2)). CD68+ cells were identified using fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Expression of macrophage markers was measured by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Body composition and fat distribution were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography, respectively. Mean CD68+ cell percentage tended to be higher in subcutaneous (18.3%) compared with omental adipose tissue (15.5%, P = .07). Positive correlations were observed between CD68+ cell percentage as well as CD68 messenger RNA expression in a given depot vs the other (P ≤ .01). Visceral adipose tissue area and omental adipocyte diameter were positively related to CD68+ cell percentage in omental fat (r = 0.52 and r = 0.35, P ≤ .05). Total and visceral adipose tissue areas as well as subcutaneous adipocyte diameter were significantly correlated with CD68+ cell percentage in subcutaneous adipose tissue (0.32 ≤ r ≤ 0.40, P ≤ .05). Adipose tissue areas and subcutaneous adipocyte diameter were also significantly associated with expression of commonly used macrophage markers including CD68 in the subcutaneous fat compartment (0.32 ≤ r ≤ 0.57, P ≤ .05). Visceral adipose tissue area was the best correlate of CD68+ cell percentage in both omental and subcutaneous fat tissues, explaining, respectively, 20% and 12% of the variance in models also including subcutaneous adipose tissue area, adipocyte sizes, and total body fat mass. Visceral adipose tissue accumulation is the best correlate of macrophage infiltration in both the subcutaneous and omental fat compartments of lean to obese women.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Genomics, Laval University Medical Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada G1V 4G2.
authors.forename: Andréanne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.forename: Renée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drolet
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noël
authors.forename: Gaëtan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tchernof
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018845:CD11 Antigens; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055105:Waist Circumference; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D018845:CD11 Antigens; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule