title: Fat depot-specific expression of HOXC9 and HOXC10 may contribute to adverse fat distribution and related metabolic traits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Independent previous studies in both rodents and humans suggest a role of developmental genes in the origin of obesity and body fat distribution. Here, the hypothesis that human adipose tissue (AT) expression of the developmental genes homeobox transcription factors C9 (HOXC9) and C10 (HOXC10) is fat depot-specific and related to obesity-related traits was tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 636 individuals, HOXC9 and HOXC10 mRNA expression was investigated in paired abdominal subcutaneous (SC) and omental AT samples in relation to a wide range of age, BMI, fat distribution, and metabolic parameters and in subfractions of isolated adipocytes and cells of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HOXC9 and HOXC10 mRNA expression is significantly higher in SC compared to omental AT. HOXC9 and HOXC10 mRNA expression significantly correlates with body fat mass, even after adjustment for age and gender. In smaller subgroups (depending on the availability of data), fat depot-related significant gender- and BMI-independent associations between HOXC9 and HOXC10 gene expression and parameters of glucose metabolism and AT biology were found (e.g., adipocyte size).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these data suggest that HOXC9 and HOXC10 may play an important role in the development of obesity, adverse fat distribution, and subsequent alterations in whole-body metabolism and AT function.
authors.affiliation: IFB AdiposityDiseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jakob E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brune
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.|German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kunath
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.|German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Gesine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Flehmig
authors.affiliation: Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Clinic of Visceral Surgery, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schön
authors.affiliation: Municipal Clinic Dresden-Neustadt, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lohmann
authors.affiliation: Municipal Clinic Dresden-Neustadt, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dressler
authors.affiliation: IFB AdiposityDiseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.|Department of Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasshauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blüher
authors.affiliation: IFB AdiposityDiseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klöting
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009852:Omentum / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: C410304:HOXC10 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C522807:Hoxc9 protein, human