title: Osteoprotegerin increases in metabolic syndrome and promotes adipose tissue proinflammatory changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation is believed to link obesity to insulin resistance, as in the setting of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a soluble protein that seems to exert proatherogenic and prodiabetogenic effects. This study aims at determining OPG levels in MetS and whether OPG might contribute to MetS development and progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating OPG was measured in 46 patients with MetS and 63 controls, and was found significantly elevated in those with MetS. In addition, circulating and tissue OPG was significantly increased in high-fat diet (HFD) fed C57BL6 mice, which is one of the animal models for the study of MetS. To evaluate the consequences of OPG elevation, we delivered this protein to C57BL6 mice, finding that it promoted systemic and adipose tissue proinflammatory changes in association with metabolic abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that OPG may trigger adipose tissue proinflammatory changes in MetS/HFD-induced obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 66, 44100 Ferrara, Italy; Baker IDI, Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. Electronic address: stella.bernardi@aots.sanita.fvg.it.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: b.fabris@fmc.units.it.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.affiliation: Baker IDI, Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. Electronic address: merlin.thomas@bakeridi.edu.au.
authors.forename: Merlin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34100 Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: tffbbr@unife.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toffoli
authors.affiliation: Baker IDI, Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. Electronic address: chris.tikellis@bakeridi.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tikellis
authors.affiliation: Diabetological Centre, via Puccini 48/50, 34148 Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: riccardocandido@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Candido
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy. Electronic address: nocciocat@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catena
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension, University of Torino, Ospedale San Giovanni Battista, 10126 Torino, Italy. Electronic address: paolo.mulatero@libero.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mulatero
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Udine, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy. Electronic address: fabio.barbone@uniud.it.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbone
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34100 Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: radillo@burlo.trieste.it.
authors.forename: Oriano
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Radillo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34100 Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: zla.grg@unife.it.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zauli
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 66, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. Electronic address: paola.secchiero@unife.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Secchiero
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Adipose tissue; High-fat diet; Inflammation; Metabolic syndrome; Osteoprotegerin