title: Circulating pancreatic polypeptide concentrations predict visceral and liver fat content.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  No current biomarker can reliably predict visceral and liver fat content, both of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Vagal tone has been suggested to influence regional fat deposition. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is secreted from the endocrine pancreas under vagal control. We investigated the utility of PP in predicting visceral and liver fat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting plasma PP concentrations were measured in 104 overweight and obese subjects (46 men and 58 women). In the same subjects, total and regional adipose tissue, including total visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and total subcutaneous adipose tissue (TSAT), were measured using whole-body magnetic resonance imaging. Intrahepatocellular lipid content (IHCL) was quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fasting plasma PP concentrations positively and significantly correlated with both VAT (r = 0.57, P < .001) and IHCL (r = 0.51, P < .001), but not with TSAT (r = 0.02, P = .88). Fasting PP concentrations independently predicted VAT after controlling for age and sex. Fasting PP concentrations independently predicted IHCL after controlling for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, homeostatic model assessment 2-insulin resistance, (HOMA2-IR) and serum concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Fasting PP concentrations were associated with serum ALT, TG, TC, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood pressure (P < .05). These associations were mediated by IHCL and/or VAT. Fasting PP and HOMA2-IR were independently significantly associated with hepatic steatosis (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pancreatic polypeptide is a novel predictor of visceral and liver fat content, and thus a potential biomarker for cardiovascular risk stratification and targeted treatment of patients with ectopic fat deposition.
authors.affiliation: Section of Investigative Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (A.S., C.W.L.R., P.B., R.L., A.B., M.A.G., S.R.B., K.G.M.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Nutrition and Dietetic Research Group, Section of Investigative Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (M.L.S., N.A.I., N.M.D., E.C., G.S.F.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology (E.L.S., J.D.B.), University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom; School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology (N.M.D.), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Diabetes and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (F.S.M., M.U.), University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom; Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences (A.P.G.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Diabetes Complications Research Centre (C.W.L.R.), Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Clinical Biochemistry (P.B., M.B.), Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; and Department of Obesity and Endocrinology (D.J.C.), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sam
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sleeth
authors.forename: E Louise
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Nurhafzan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Norlida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mat Daud
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shojaee-Moradie
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Umpleby
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Goldstone
authors.forename: Carel W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Le Roux
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busbridge
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laurie
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cuthbertson
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ghatei
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Jimmy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide