title: Adipokine zinc-α2-glycoprotein regulated by growth hormone and linked to insulin sensitivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertrophic obesity is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity and lipid-mobilizing activity of zinc-α2-glycoprotein. Adipose tissue (AT) of growth hormone (GH) -deficient patients is characterized by extreme adipocyte hypertrophy due to defects in AT lipid metabolism. It was hypothesized that zinc-α2-glycoprotein is regulated by GH and mediates some of its beneficial effects in AT.
  
  
  METHODS
  AT from patients with GH deficiency and individuals with obesity-related GH deficit was obtained before and after 5-year and 24-month GH supplementation therapy. GH action was tested in primary human adipocytes. Relationships of GH and zinc-α2-glycoprotein with adipocyte size and insulin sensitivity were evaluated in nondiabetic patients with noncancerous cachexia and hypertrophic obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AT in GH-deficient adults displayed a substantial reduction of zinc-α2-glycoprotein. GH therapy normalized AT zinc-α2-glycoprotein. Obesity-related relative GH deficit was associated with almost 80% reduction of zinc-α2-glycoprotein mRNA in AT. GH increased zinc-α2-glycoprotein mRNA in both AT of obese men and primary human adipocytes. Interdependence of GH and zinc-α2-glycoprotein in regulating AT morphology and metabolic phenotype was evident from their relationship with adipocyte size and AT-specific and whole-body insulin sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that GH is involved in regulation of AT zinc-α2-glycoprotein; however, the molecular mechanism linking GH and zinc-α2-glycoprotein in AT is yet unknown.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balaz
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ukropcova
authors.forename: Timea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurdiova
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gajdosechova
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vlcek
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Janakova
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fedeles
authors.forename: Mikulas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pura
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gasperikova
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ruzena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tkacova
authors.forename: Iwar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klimes
authors.forename: Juraj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Payer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfrum
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ukropec
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein; D019382:Human Growth Hormone