Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) may contribute to partition of energy storage into visceral and subcutaneous fat depots

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2016-10, Vol.24 (10), p.2092-2100
• Main Authors: Guiu‐Jurado, Esther, Unthan, Mark, Böhler, Nina, Kern, Matthias, Landgraf, Kathrin, Dietrich, Arne, Schleinitz, Dorit, Ruschke, Karen, Klöting, Nora, Faßhauer, Mathias, Tönjes, Anke, Stumvoll, Michael, Körner, Antje, Kovacs, Peter, Blüher, Matthias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipocytes; Adult; Body Mass Index; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 - genetics; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - genetics; Cardiovascular disease; Comorbidity; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Embryos; Fasting; Female; Gene expression; Humans; Hypertension; Hypotheses; Insulin; Male; Middle Aged; Morphology; Obesity; Obesity - genetics; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Rodents; Studies; Subcutaneous Fat - metabolism; Womens health
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.21571

Objective Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important regulators of adipogenesis and may play a role in obesity. In this study, the hypothesis that BMP2 is related to adipose tissue (AT) distribution in obesity was tested. Methods BMP2 serum concentration (n = 439) and BMP2 and Schnurri‐1 and −2 mRNA expression were measured in paired samples of visceral and subcutaneous AT from 547 individuals with a wide range of body mass index. In addition, a single nucleotide polymorphism rs979012 in the BMP2 gene was genotyped for subsequent association studies on quantitative traits related to obesity in 631 individuals. Results BMP2 and Schnurri‐1 mRNA were significantly higher in visceral compared with subcutaneous AT. Compared with individuals who were healthy and lean, BMP2 expression in both depots was significantly higher in people with obesity. Significantly higher BMP2 serum concentrations were found in patients with type 2 diabetes with moderate but not morbid obesity. Schnurri‐1 and −2 mRNA expression was not related to either BMP2 expression or circulating BMP2. Finally, rs979012 showed nominal association with body mass index and total cholesterol levels. Conclusions Data suggest that with increasing demand to store excessive energy, AT BMP2 expression increases and may contribute to partitioning of energy storage into visceral and subcutaneous AT depots.