ALK7 expression is specific for adipose tissue, reduced in obesity and correlates to factors implicated in metabolic disease.

• Human adipose tissue is a major site of expression of inhibin beta B (INHBB) which homodimerizes to form the novel adipokine activin B. Our aim was to determine if molecules needed for a local action of activin B are expressed in adipose tissue. Microarray analysis showed that adipose tissue expressed activin type I and II receptors and that the expression of activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) was adipose tissue specific. In obesity discordant siblings from the SOS Sib Pair study, adipose tissue ALK7 expression was higher in lean (n=90) compared to obese (n=90) subjects (p=4 x 10(-31)). Adipose tissue ALK7 expression correlated with several measures of body fat, carbohydrate metabolism and lipids. In addition, ALK7 and INHBB expression correlated but only in lean subjects and in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. We conclude that activin B may have local effects in adipose tissue and thereby influence obesity and its comorbidities.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Medicinsk genetik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Medical Genetics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Activin Receptors

Type I

genetics

Activin Receptors

Type II

genetics

Adipose Tissue

enzymology

Gene Expression Profiling

Humans

Inhibin-beta Subunits

genetics

Obesity

enzymology

Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Protein Subunits

genetics

Tissue Distribution

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)