Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity Is Associated With Elements of the Plasma Lipidomic Profile in Young Asian Adults.
Asian subjects are at increased cardio-metabolic risk at comparatively lower body mass index (BMI) compared with white subjects. Sympathetic nervous system activation and dyslipidemia, both characteristics of increased adiposity, appear to be related. We therefore analyzed the association of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) with the plasma lipidomic profile in young adult Asian and white subjects.



Blood samples were collected from 101 participants of either Asian or white background (age, 18 to 30 years; BMI, 28.1 ± 5.9 kg/m2). Lipids were extracted from plasma and analyzed using electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. MSNA was quantified using microneurography. The association of MSNA and obesity with lipid species was examined using linear regression analysis.



The plasma concentrations of total dihydroceramide, ceramide, GM3 ganglioside, lysoalkylphosphatidylcholine, alkenylphosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidylinositol were elevated in the Asian subjects relative to the white subjects. After adjustment for confounders, diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols, cholesterol esters, phosphatidylinositols, phosphatidylethanolamines, and phosphatidylglycerols bore significant associations with MSNA but only in the Asian subjects. These associations remained significant after further adjustment for the participants' degree of insulin resistance and appeared not to be related to differences in diet macronutrient content between groups.



The lipidomic profile differs between Asian and white subjects. There exists a strong relationship between certain lipid species and MSNA. The association is stronger in Asian subjects, despite their lower BMI. This study demonstrates an association between circulating lipids and central sympathetic outflow. Whether the stronger association between the lipid profile and sympathetic activation underpins the apparent greater risk posed by increased adiposity in Asian individuals merits further attention.
Human Neurotransmitters, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.|Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
Nina
N
Eikelis
Human Neurotransmitters, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.|Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
Elisabeth A
EA
Lambert
Human Neurotransmitters, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.|Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
Sarah
S
Phillips
Human Neurotransmitters, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
Carolina Ika
CI
Sari
Metabolomics Laboratories, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
Piyushkumar A
PA
Mundra
Metabolomics Laboratories, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
Jacquelyn M
JM
Weir
Metabolomics Laboratories, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
Kevin
K
Huynh
Human Neurotransmitters, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
Mariee T
MT
Grima
Human Neurotransmitters, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
Nora E
NE
Straznicky
Human Neurotransmitters, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.|Primary Care Research, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
John B
JB
Dixon
Neurovascular Hypertension & Kidney Disease, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.|Dobney Hypertension Centre, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia - Royal Perth Hospital Unit, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6000, Australia.
Markus P
MP
Schlaich
Metabolomics Laboratories, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
Peter J
PJ
Meikle
Human Neurotransmitters, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.|Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
Gavin W
GW
Lambert
D001213:Asian; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002518:Ceramides; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004075:Diglycerides; D005732:Gangliosides; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D014280:Triglycerides; C109343:dihydroceramide; C025449:lysophosphatidylinositol; C483858:phosphatidylethanolamine