Variants in ADIPOQ gene are linked to adiponectin levels and lung function in young males independent of obesity
PLOS ONE
Authors: Christodoulou, Andria; Ierodiakonou, Despo; Awofala, Awoyemi A.; Petrou, Michael; Kales, Stefanos N.; Christiani, David C.; Mantzoros, Christos S.; Christophi, Costas A.
Abstract
Background Obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, including reduced lung function. The role of polymorphisms of the adiponectin gene, though linked with cardiometabolic consequences of obesity, has not been studied in relation to lung function. Objectives The aim of this study is to examine polymorphisms in the ADIPOQ, ADIPOR1, and ADIPOR2 genes in relation to adiponectin serum levels, BMI, and adiposity in 18-year old Cypriot males, as well as determine whether BMI, adipokines levels and polymorphisms in adipokine related genes are associated with lung function levels. Results From the participants, 8% were classified as obese, 22% as overweight, and the remaining 71% as normal. We found that rs266729 and rs1501299 in ADIPOQ and rs10920531 in ADIPOR1 were significantly associated with serum adiponectin levels, after adjusting for ever smoking. In addition, there was an overall significant increase in FEV1% predicted with increasing BMI (beta = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.78) and in FVC % predicted (beta = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.73, 1.30). There was also a decrease in FEV1/FVC with increasing BMI (beta = -0.53, 95% CI: -0.71, -0.35). Finally, rs1501299 was associated with lung function measures. Discussion Functional variants in the ADIPOQ gene were linked with lung function in young males. Further studies should concentrate on the role of adipokines on lung function which may direct novel therapeutic approaches.
Low- and high-thermogenic brown adipocyte subpopulations coexist in murine adipose tissue
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
Authors: Song, Anying; Dai, Wenting; Jang, Min Jee; Medrano, Leonard; Li, Zhuo; Zhao, Hu; Shao, Mengle; Tan, Jiayi; Li, Aimin; Ning, Tinglu; Miller, Marcia M.; Armstrong, Brian; Huss, Janice M.; Zhu, Yi; Liu, Yong; Gradinaru, Viviana; Wu, Xiwei; Jiang, Lei; Scherer, Philipp E.; Wang, Qiong A.
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT), as the main site of adaptive thermogenesis, exerts beneficial metabolic effects on obesity and insulin resistance. BAT has been previously assumed to contain a homogeneous population of brown adipocytes. Utilizing multiple mouse models capable of genetically labeling different cellular populations, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing and 3D tissue profiling, we discovered a brown adipocyte subpopulation with low thermogenic activity coexisting with the classical high-thermogenic brown adipocytes within the BAT. Compared with the high-thermogenic brown adipocytes, these low-thermogenic brown adipocytes had substantially lower Ucp1 and Adipoq expression, larger lipid droplets, and lower mitochondrial content. Functional analyses showed that, unlike the high-thermogenic brown adipocytes, the low-thermogenic brown adipocytes have markedly lower basal mitochondrial respiration, and they are specialized in fatty acid uptake. Upon changes in environmental temperature, the 2 brown adipocyte subpopulations underwent dynamic interconversions. Cold exposure converted low-thermogenic brown adipocytes into high-thermogenic cells. A thermoneutral environment had the opposite effect. The recruitment of high-thermogenic brown adipocytes by cold stimulation is not affected by high-fat diet feeding, but it does substantially decline with age. Our results revealed a high degree of functional heterogeneity of brown adipocytes.