Gene expression in visceral adipocytes in metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity: A cross-sectional analysis of associations with cardiometabolic components
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) produces several adipokines; however, VAT adipocytes’ gene expression has not been related with cardio-metabolic components. The present study aimed to explore associations between gene expression in human primary VAT adipocytes’ and cardio-metabolic components in subjects who live with Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity (MUO) compared with subjects who live with Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO). Methods Cross-sectional study of patients who live with obesity, who underwent bariatric/metabolic surgery. Results Forty-five patients (18 MHO and 27 MUO) aged 44 years, main co-morbidities Diabetes and Hypertension, were analyzed. MUO showed younger age and higher cardio-metabolic risk, as well as larger adipocyte´s sizes. Primary cultured adipocytes were isolated from trans-surgical VAT sample, then cDNA was analyzed for the expression of 92 genes, further distributed as MUO vs. MHO and clustered according to their linkage with cardio-metabolic components. Higher expression of genes like EDN1, IL-6, ADIPOQ, GSTA2, TGFβ, WNT3A, KDR, MAPK3, vWF (p<0.04); as well as reduced NOS2, PDGFA, HAMP and RARRES2 (p<0.01) were observed across clusters of hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and central obesity, broadly implicating pathways related to inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and vascular regulation. Conclusion Findings from the present exploratory analysis show that cardio-metabolic risk is associated to VAT adipocytes’ gene expression; particularly those genes related to oxidative stress, insulin resistance, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, athero-thrombosis, and lower vasodilation. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are required to clarify the directionality and clinical significance of these associations.
Source: Science Progress
Authors: Juan Antonio Suárez-Cuenca, Alejandro Hernández-Patricio, Eduardo Vera-Gómez, Juan Ariel Gutiérrez-Buendía, Atzín Suá Ruíz-Hernández, Karen de la Vega-Moreno, Gustavo De la Peña-Sosa, Jesús Montoya-Ramírez, Alberto Melchor-López, María Angélica Diaz-Aranda, Yareni Bernal-Figueroa, Gustavo Iván Martínez-Torres, José Gutiérrez-Salinas, Sofía Lizeth Alcaráz-Estrada, Silvia García, Juan Antonio Pineda-Juárez, Christian Gabriel Toledo-Lozano, Dulce Cecilia Ramos-Vázquez, Christian Alejandro Delaflor-Wagner, Mario Antonio Téllez-González, Paul Mondragón-Terán, Pablo Zermeño-Ugalde
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,650
OpenAlex ID: W7167335697