Impact of adiposity on cellular adhesion: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of atherosclerosis (MESA)

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2016-01, Vol.24 (1), p.223-230
• Main Authors: Christoph, Mary J., Allison, Matthew A., Pankow, James S., Decker, Paul A., Kirsch, Phillip S., Tsai, Michael Y., Sale, Michele M., de Andrade, Mariza, Sicotte, Hugues, Tang, Weihong, Hanson, Naomi Q., Berardi, Cecilia, Wassel, Christina L., Larson, Nicholas B., Bielinski, Suzette J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adiposity; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atherosclerosis - physiopathology; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases - ethnology; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Adhesion Molecules - physiology; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Female; Health risk assessment; Humans; Intra-Abdominal Fat - physiopathology; Male; Metabolic disorders; Middle Aged; Obesity - ethnology; Obesity - physiopathology; Risk Factors; Rodents; Studies; Subcutaneous Fat - physiopathology; Waist-Hip Ratio; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.21245

Objective At the cellular level, how excess adiposity promotes atherogenesis is not fully understood. One pathway involves secretion of adipokines that stimulate endothelial dysfunction through increased expression of adhesion molecules. However, the relationship of adiposity to adhesion molecules that promote atherosclerosis is largely unknown. Methods Linear regression models were used to assess the sex‐specific associations of soluble cellular adhesion molecules (sP‐ and sL‐selectin, sICAM‐1, sVCAM‐1, and sHGF) and adiposity in 5,974 adults examined as part of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Adiposity measures included body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip‐ratio (WHR), and computed tomography measures of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Results The mean age was 64 years and 52% were female. In multivariable models adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, sHGF was positively associated with BMI, WHR, and VAT in both males and females, and sP‐selectin with WHR and VAT in males. sVCAM‐1 was inversely associated with VAT in females only. Conclusions Our results showed the relation of adiposity to soluble cellular adhesion proteins was similar across adiposity measures and for both sexes. However, the relationship between adiposity and sVCAM‐1 and P‐selectin may be modified by sex and the measure used to assess adiposity.