title: Transcardial gradient of adiponectin, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in overweight coronary artery disease patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), where epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) express proatherogenic cytokines (i.e., interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) and decreases production of beneficial adiponectin. Studies on endocrine role of EAT are mostly based on assessing cytokines' mRNAs, whereas cytokine blood levels might not readily correlate. In order to get better insight into the endocrine role of thickened EAT in CAD, we assessed transcardial gradient of adiponectin, IL-6 and TNF-α.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed anthropometric and ultrasound measures in cohort of fifty nondiabetic subjects (21 CAD and 29 non-CAD). Blood sampled from aortic root and coronary sinus was assayed for adiponectin, IL-6 and TNF-α, using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Except thicker EAT in CAD subjects, anthropometric measures were similar (overweight), with higher adiponectin in coronary sinus than in aortic root (p<0.001) in both groups. CAD subjects had lower adiponectin in aortic root (p<0.001) and higher levels of TNF-α in coronary sinus than in aortic root (p=0.05). EAT thickness positively correlated with hip circumference (p=0.038) and negatively correlated with adiponectin levels (for both p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transcardial gradient of adiponectin in non-CAD and CAD overweight subjects was similar, while latter had lower systemic adiponectin level and thicker EAT. EAT with thickening reaches the threshold level of near-maximal down-regulation of adiponectin and its further thickening is not associated with continued decrease of adiponectin production. In CAD patients levels of TNF-α were higher, but IL-6 were not, and these cytokines might be flush out by lymphatic route.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University in Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zvonimir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vrselja
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Clinic of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šram
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University in Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andrijevic
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, University Hospital Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Takač
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Clinic of Surgery, University Hospital Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lekšan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Clinic of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Radivoje
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Radić
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University in Osijek, Croatia. Electronic address: gcuric@mefos.hr.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Curic
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Cytokine; Epicardial adipose tissue; Inflammation; Transcardial blood sampling