Expression of resistin protein in abdominal and thigh subcutaneous adipose tissues

Huanli ZHU; Yongming ZHOU; Muxun ZHANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Resistin is an adipocyte-derived polypeptides. While central obesity can result in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the expression of resistin protein in subcutaneous adipose tissue of normal human abdominal and thigh, and to investigate the role of resistin in central obesity bringing insulin resistance.

DESIGN:

Controlled observational experiment.

SETTING:

Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

PARTICIPANTS:

Totally 20 patients hospitalized between January and April 2003 at the Department of Surgery of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were selected. All cases were divided into abdominal fat group with 12 cases and thigh fat group with 8 cases based on the site of fat tissue.

METHODS:

①Blood pressure, height, body mass were measured and body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (BF%) in vivo (according to formulas induced by data from white people) were calculated Male=1.2×body mass (kg)+height-2 (M-2)+0.23×age-16.2; Female =1.2× body mass (kg)×height-2 (m-2)+0.23×age-5.4. ②Fasting blood glucose was measured with glucose oxidase assay. ③Protein was isolated with lysis buffer and protein concentration was identified with Bradford method; The expression of resistin protein was measured with Western-blot method.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Blood pressure, BMI, BF%; fasting blood glucose and expression of resistin protein of all cases of the two groups.

RESULTS:

Totally 20 patients were involved the result analysis. ①There were no significant difference in fast blood glucose, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI) and BF%between two groups (P ＞ 0.05). ②Expression levels (A) of resistin protein in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissues was (14 942±6 076), which was more higher than that in thigh subcutaneous adipose tissues (39 421±6 087). There was markedly significant difference (P ＜ 0.01).

CONCLUSION:

The expression of resistin protein is much greater in abdominal fat depots than in thigh fat depots, which has evaluative value for studying the episode of central obesity-induced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.