Expression of the adrenomedullin gene in adipose tissue

Takuo Nambu1, Hiroshi Arai, Yasato Komatsu

  • 1Department of Medicine and Clinical Science Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.

Regulatory Peptides
|September 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Adipose tissue, particularly mature adipocytes, is a major source of adrenomedullin (AM), a peptide hormone. Adipocyte-derived AM plays a role in obesity, with expression increasing in obese models.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide known for its potent vasodilatory effects.
  • AM was initially isolated from human pheochromocytoma cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and secretion of AM from adipose tissue.
  • To determine if adipose tissue is a significant source of AM.
  • To explore the role of AM in obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Northern blot analysis to detect AM mRNA levels in mouse adipose tissue.
  • Culture of mature adipocytes to measure AM peptide secretion.
  • Analysis of AM expression in human subcutaneous adipose tissue.
  • Assessment of AM expression in diet-induced and genetic obesity mouse models.

Main Results:

  • Adipose tissue exhibits marked expression of AM mRNA, significantly higher than in kidney tissue.
  • Mature adipocytes show substantially higher AM mRNA levels compared to the stromal-vascular fraction.
  • AM peptide secretion increases over time in mature adipocyte cultures.
  • AM expression is elevated in adipose tissue of obese mice (high-fat diet and ob/ob models).

Conclusions:

  • Adipose tissue, especially mature adipocytes, represents a major source of AM in the body.
  • Adipocyte-derived AM is implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity.
  • These findings highlight a novel endocrine function of adipose tissue.

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