title: Increasing serum pre-adipocyte factor-1 (Pref-1) correlates with decreased body fat, increased free fatty acids, and level of recent alcohol consumption in excessive alcohol drinkers.
abstract: Patients with alcoholic liver disease have been reported to have a significantly lower percentage of body fat (%BF) than controls. The mechanism for the reduction in %BF in heavy alcohol users has not been elucidated. In adipose tissue, Pref-1 is specifically expressed in pre-adipocytes but not in adipocytes. Pref-1 inhibits adipogenesis and elevated levels are associated with reduced adipose tissue mass. We investigated the association between serum Pref-1 and %BF, alcohol consumption, and serum free fatty acids (FFA) in a well-characterized cohort of heavy alcohol users compared to controls. One hundred forty-eight subjects were prospectively recruited. The Time Line Follow-Back (TLFB) questionnaire was used to quantify the amount of alcohol consumed over the 30-day period before their enrollment. Anthropometric measurements were performed to calculate %BF. Serum Pref-1 and FFA were measured. Fifty-one subjects (mean age 32 ± 9 years, 88% men) were non-excessive drinkers whereas 97 were excessive drinkers (mean age 41 ± 18 years, 69% men). Compared to non-excessive drinkers, individuals with excessive drinking had significantly higher levels of Pref-1 (p<0.01), FFA (p < 0.001), and lower %BF (p = 0.03). Serum levels of Pref-1 were associated with the amount of alcohol consumed during the previous 30 days. Serum Pref-1 was negatively correlated with %BF, but positively associated with serum FFA. Our data suggest that elevated Pref-1 levels in excessive drinkers might inhibit the expansion of adipose tissue, decreasing %BF in alcoholics. Further work is needed to validate these findings and to better understand the role of Pref-1 and its clinical significance in subjects with heavy alcohol use.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Electronic address: sliangpu@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Suthat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liangpunsakul
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Westerhold
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Crabb
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Xianyin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Witzmann
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C512941:DLK1 protein, human; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins
keywords: Alcohol; Body fat; Free fatty acid; Pref-1