Interstitial concentrations of adipokines in subcutaneous abdominal and femoral adipose tissue

Ninna Bo Nielsen, Lise Højbjerre, Mette P Sonne, Amra C Alibegovic, Allan Vaag, Flemming Dela, Bente Stallknecht

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Abstract

Adipokines play important regulatory roles in the pathophysiology of obesity and insulin resistance. We measured plasma and interstitial concentrations of the adipokines adiponectin, resistin, leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in subcutaneous, abdominal and femoral adipose tissue using calibrated, large-pore microdialysis technique in 8 healthy, lean men on 2 experimental days. The interstitial leptin concentration was 2.5-fold higher in subcutaneous, femoral than abdominal adipose tissue (P<0.05), but no regional differences were found for the remaining adipokines (P>0.05). Adiponectin and leptin concentrations were higher in plasma than subcutaneous adipose tissue (approximately 25-fold and approximately 2-fold, respectively, P<0.05), whereas MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were higher in subcutaneous adipose tissue than plasma (approximately 100-fold, approximately 200-fold and approximately 1000-fold, respectively, P<0.05). Resistin concentrations did not differ significantly between compartments. Adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF) showed no regional difference (P>0.05). The intra- and inter-subject variations of all investigated adipokines as well as of ATBF were substantial (coefficient of variation: 4-177%). In conclusion, interstitial leptin concentrations are approximately 2.5-fold higher in subcutaneous, femoral than abdominal adipose tissue, which might be a potential mechanism behind the health-benefits of "pear-shape". Furthermore, subcutaneous adipose tissue has a marked production of pro-inflammatory adipokines.
Original languageEnglish
JournalRegulatory Peptides
Volume155
Issue number1-3
Pages (from-to)39-45
Number of pages6
ISSN0167-0115
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

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