Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Morbidly Obese and Normal Weight Chinese Women

Objective. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) plays a central role in the balance of energy metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the differentially expressed proteins in VAT between morbidly obese (BMI >35 kg/m2) and normal weight Chinese women. Method. Nine morbidly obese women and 8 normal weight women as controls were enrolled. Abdominal VAT was excised and analyzed by label-free one-dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (1D-LC-MS/MS). Differentially expressed VAT proteins were further analyzed with Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Masson’s trichrome staining and CD68 immunohistochemical staining of VAT were conducted in all subjects. Result. A total of 124 differentially expressed proteins were found with a ≥2-fold difference. Forty-one proteins were upregulated, and 83 proteins were downregulated in obese individuals. These altered VAT proteins were involved in the attenuation of the liver X receptor/retinoid X receptor (LXR/RXR) signaling pathway and the activation of the acute-phase response process. Three proteins (ACSL1, HADH, and UCHL1) were validated by western blotting using the same set of VAT samples from 6 morbidly obese and 7 normal weight patients, and the results indicated that the magnitude and direction of the protein changes were in accordance with the proteomic analysis. Masson’s trichrome staining and CD68 immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that there was much more collagen fiber deposition and CD68-positive macrophages in the VAT of morbidly obese patients, suggesting extensive fiber deposition and macrophage infiltration. Conclusion. A number of differentially expressed proteins were identified in VAT between morbidly obese and normal weight Chinese females. These differential proteins could be potential candidates in addressing the role of VAT in the development of obesity.

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Early Childhood Fat Tissue Changes—Adipocyte Morphometry, Collagen Deposition, and Expression of CD163+ Cells in Subcutaneous and Visceral Adipose Tissue of Male Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073627 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3627

Author(s):

Robert Mujkić ◽

Darija Šnajder Mujkić ◽

Ivana Ilić ◽

Edi Rođak ◽

Antun Šumanovac ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Surface Area ◽

Visceral Adipose Tissue ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Collagen Deposition ◽

Healthy Male ◽

Visceral Adipose ◽

Subcutaneous Adipose

Childhood obesity is a complex health problem, and not many studies have been done on adipose tissue remodeling in early childhood. The aim of this study was to examine extracellular matrix remodeling in the adipose tissue of healthy male children depending on their weight status. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue was obtained from 45 otherwise healthy male children who underwent elective surgery for hernia repairs or orchidopexy. The children were divided into overweight/obese (n = 17) or normal weight groups (n = 28) depending on their body mass index (BMI) z-score. Serum was obtained for glucose, testosterone, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) measurements. Sections of adipose tissue were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to determine the adipocytes’ surface area, and Masson’s trichrome stain was used to detect the adipocytes’ collagen content. Immunohistochemistry for CD163+ cells was also performed. The results showed that male children in the overweight group had higher serum triglyceride levels, greater adipocyte surface area and collagen content in their subcutaneous adipose tissue, more crown-like structures in fat tissues, and more CD163+ cells in their visceral adipose tissue than males in the normal weight group. In conclusion, in male children, obesity can lead to the hypertrophy of adipocytes, increased collagen deposition in subcutaneous adipose tissues, and changes in the polarization and accumulation of macrophages.

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