Accumulation of adipose tissue in lower body lowers risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. The molecular basis of this protective effect of gluteofemoral depot is not clear.
The aim of this study was to compare the profile of expression of inflammation-related genes in subcutaneous gluteal (sGAT) and abdominal (sAAT) adipose tissue at baseline and in response to multiphase weight-reducing dietary intervention (DI). 14 premenopausal healthy obese women underwent a 6 months' DI consisting of 1 month very-low-calorie-diet (VLCD), subsequent 2 months' low-calorie-diet and 3 months' weight maintenance diet (WM). Paired samples of sGAT and sAAT were obtained before and at the end of VLCD and WM periods. mRNA expression of 17 genes (macrophage markers, cytokines) was measured using RT-qPCR on chip-platform.
At baseline, there were no differences in gene expression of macrophage markers and cytokines between sGAT and sAAT. The dynamic changes induced by DI were similar in both depots for all genes except for three cytokines (IL6, IL10, CCL2) that differed in their response during weight maintenance phase.
The results show that, in obese women, there are no major differences between sGAT and sAAT in expression of inflammation-related genes at baseline conditions and in response to the weight-reducing DI.