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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
A Technique for Subcutaneous Abdominal Adipose Tissue Biopsy via a Non-diathermy Method
Published on: September 30, 2017
Needle and surgical biopsy techniques differentially affect adipose tissue gene expression profiles
David M Mutch1, Joan Tordjman, Véronique Pelloux
1INSERM, Nutriomique U872 Team 7, Paris, France. dmmutch_sci@hotmail.com
Background:
Adipose tissue gene expression analysis in humans now provides a tremendous means to discover the physiopathologic gene targets critical for our understanding and treatment of obesity. Clinical studies are emerging in which adipose gene expression has been examined in hundreds of subjects, and it will be fundamentally important that these studies can be compared so that a common consensus can be reached and new therapeutic targets for obesity proposed.
Objective:
We studied the effect of the biopsy sampling methods (needle-aspirated and surgical) used in clinical investigation programs on the functional interpretation of adipose tissue gene expression profiles.
Design:
A comparative microarray analysis of the different subcutaneous adipose tissue sampling methods was performed in age-matched lean (n = 19) and obese (n = 18) female subjects. Appropriate statistical (principal components analysis) and bioinformatic (FunNet) functional enrichment software were used to evaluate data. The morphology of adipose tissue samples obtained by needle-aspiration and surgical methods was examined by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
Biopsy techniques influence the gene expression underlying the biological themes currently discussed in obesity (eg, inflammation, extracellular matrix, and metabolism). Immunohistochemistry experiments showed that the easier to obtain needle-aspirated biopsies poorly aspirate the fibrotic fraction of subcutaneous adipose tissue, resulting in an underrepresentation of the stroma-vascular fraction.
Conclusions:
The adipose tissue biopsy technique is an important caveat to consider when designing, interpreting, and, most important, comparing microarray experiments. These results will have crucial implications for the clinical and physiopathologic understanding of human obesity and therapeutic approaches.
Insights
Adipose tissue biopsy methods significantly impact gene expression analysis in obesity studies. Needle-aspirated biopsies may underrepresent stromal tissue, affecting obesity research and therapeutic target discovery.
Area of Science:
- Human physiology
- Molecular biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Adipose tissue gene expression analysis is crucial for understanding and treating obesity.
- Standardizing gene expression studies is vital for comparing results and identifying therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how different adipose tissue biopsy sampling methods (needle-aspirated vs. surgical) affect gene expression profiles.
- To assess the impact of biopsy techniques on the functional interpretation of adipose tissue gene expression in obesity research.
Main Methods:
- Comparative microarray analysis of subcutaneous adipose tissue from lean and obese female subjects.
- Utilized principal components analysis and FunNet bioinformatic software for data evaluation.
- Examined adipose tissue morphology using immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- Biopsy techniques demonstrably influence gene expression related to inflammation, extracellular matrix, and metabolism in adipose tissue.
- Needle-aspirated biopsies showed underrepresentation of the fibrotic stroma-vascular fraction compared to surgical methods.
- Morphological differences were observed, with needle-aspirated biopsies failing to adequately capture fibrotic components.
Conclusions:
- Adipose tissue biopsy technique is a critical consideration for designing, interpreting, and comparing gene expression studies, particularly in obesity research.
- Findings have significant implications for the clinical and pathophysiological understanding of human obesity.
- The choice of biopsy method can impact the identification of therapeutic targets for obesity.
