Association of increased Visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT circulating concentrations and gene expression levels in peripheral blood cells with lipid metabolism and fatty liver in human morbid obesity

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases, 2011-04, Vol.21 (4), p.245-253
• Main Authors: Catalán, V, Gómez-Ambrosi, J, Rodríguez, A, Ramírez, B, Silva, C, Rotellar, F, Cienfuegos, J.A, Salvador, J, Frühbeck, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adipokines; adipose tissue; Adiposity; Adult; alanine transaminase; aspartate transaminase; Biopsy; blood cells; Blood Cells - metabolism; blood serum; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular; Cytokines - blood; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Dyslipidemias - etiology; fatty liver; Fatty Liver - etiology; Fatty liver disease; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; glucose; glycemic control; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; homeostasis; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators - blood; Intra-Abdominal Fat - metabolism; Lipid metabolism; Lipids - blood; liver; Liver - metabolism; Liver - physiopathology; Male; messenger RNA; Middle Aged; NAMPT; nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase - blood; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase - genetics; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase - metabolism; Obesity; Obesity, Morbid - blood; Obesity, Morbid - metabolism; Obesity, Morbid - physiopathology; patients; Peripheral blood cells; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; triacylglycerols; volunteers
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2009.09.008

Abstract Background and aims Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is an adipokine with physiological effects on the control of glucose homeostasis as well as potentially involved in inflammation. The association of circulating NAMPT concentrations with obesity has not been clearly established. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of obesity on circulating concentrations and gene expression levels of NAMPT in human peripheral blood cells (PBCs) as well as its involvement in inflammation, glucose and lipid metabolism. Methods and results Forty-four serum samples obtained from 14 lean and 30 obese volunteers were used to analyse the circulating concentrations of NAMPT. In addition, PBC, omental adipose tissue (OM) and liver biopsy samples obtained from a subgroup of subjects were used to determine transcript levels of NAMPT by Real-time PCR. Glucose and lipid profile as well as several inflammatory factors and hepatic enzymes were analysed. NAMPT circulating concentrations ( P < 0.01) and gene expression levels in PBC ( P < 0.05) were significantly increased in obese patients as compared to lean subjects. Total-cholesterol ( P = 0.016), HDL-cholesterol ( P = 0.036) and triglycerides ( P = 0.050) were significant and independent determinants of circulating concentrations of NAMPT ( P < 0.01). Moreover, a positive correlation ( P < 0.01) was found with the hepatic enzymes alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyltransferase after BMI adjustment. Conclusion Our work shows that NAMPT circulating concentrations and mRNA expression levels in PBC are increased in obese patients and that plasma NAMPT levels are related to inflammation, lipid metabolism and hepatic enzymes suggesting a potential involvement in fatty liver disease and in the obesity-associated inflammatory state.