Tobacco smoking and cytokine levels in human epicardial adipose tissue: Impact of smoking cessation.
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a source of a number of cytokines which could act in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The potential relationship between known cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, dyslipidaemia or diabetes mellitus and EAT humoral signalling, has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we designed and conducted a cross-sectional study to determine whether selected cardiovascular risk factors are linked to levels of cytokines in epicardial and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT).



Samples of SAT and EAT were collected from consecutive patients undergoing scheduled cardiac surgery. Tissue concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-ɑ (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, leptin, and adiponectin were determined by ELISA.



We enrolled 140 patients. TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in EAT and SAT were significantly higher in current smokers (CS) than in never smokers (NS) and former smokers (FS). There were no differences between FS and NS. No other clinical variables were associated with cytokine concentrations in a regression analysis.



Smoking was independently associated with higher TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in EAT and SAT. A novel observation that pro-inflammatory cytokines are elevated in EAT in smokers could contribute to identify potential mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of adverse effects of tobacco smoking. There were no differences between EAT cytokine production in NS and FS, which support the importance of smoking cessation for cardiovascular risk reduction.
International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic; University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO15 6YD, United Kingdom.
Lukas
L
Mach
International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic; Centre of Cardiovascular Surgery and Organ Transplantation Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic.
Helena
H
Bedanova
International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic.
Miroslav
M
Soucek
Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho tr. 1, Brno, 612 42, Czech Republic.
Michal
M
Karpisek
International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic; Centre of Cardiovascular Surgery and Organ Transplantation Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic.
Petr
P
Nemec
International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic; Centre of Cardiovascular Surgery and Organ Transplantation Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno, 602 00, Czech Republic; Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho tr. 1, Brno, 612 42, Czech Republic. Electronic address: maor@post.cz.
Marek
M
Orban
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
C508600:IL6 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Coronary artery disease; Cytokines; Epicardial adipose tissue; Inflammation; Smoking