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Adipocytes IGFBP-2 expression in prepubertal obese children
Maffeis Claudio1, Ficial Benjamim, Bonadonna Riccardo
1Regional Centre for Juvenile Diabetes, Section of Obesity and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Mother and Child, Biology-Genetics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. claudio.maffeis@univr.it
Insights
Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is expressed by fat cells in obese children and increases with adiposity. This local IGFBP-2 expression may help limit further fat gain, independent of insulin sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Adipose Tissue Biology
Background:
- Obesity is linked to metabolic dysfunction, including insulin resistance.
- Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) plays a role in metabolic regulation.
- Understanding local IGFBP-2 expression in adipocytes is crucial for metabolic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure IGFBP-2 expression in abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes of obese children.
- To investigate the relationship between IGFBP-2 expression, circulating IGFBP-2, obesity, and insulin sensitivity.
- To explore potential local mechanisms of adipocyte function in obesity.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 38 obese children.
- Assessed insulin sensitivity using intravenous glucose tolerance tests.
- Measured body composition via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
- Quantified IGFBP-2 mRNA in adipose tissue biopsies using real-time PCR.
- Measured serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-2, adiponectin, and leptin.
Main Results:
- Circulating IGFBP-2 positively correlated with insulin sensitivity.
- Adipocyte IGFBP-2 expression correlated with fat mass percentage, insulin sensitivity, free IGF-I, and leptin.
- IGFBP-2 expression increased with adiposity, independent of insulin sensitivity.
- No significant correlation was found between IGFBP-2 expression and circulating IGFBP-2 levels.
Conclusions:
- Circulating IGFBP-2 is associated with improved insulin sensitivity.
- Subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes in obese children express IGFBP-2.
- IGFBP-2 expression in adipocytes increases with adiposity, suggesting a local regulatory role.
- Adipocyte IGFBP-2 may act as a mechanism to limit excessive fat accumulation.
Abstract:
Aims of the study were to measure insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) expression by abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes and to assess the relationship between IGFBP-2 expression, circulating IGFBP-2, obesity, and insulin sensitivity in obese children. Thirty-eight obese children were recruited. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by intravenous glucose tolerance test and body composition by total-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum free and total IGF-I, IGFBP-2, adiponectin, and leptin were measured. Relative quantification of IGFBP-2 mRNA by subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies was obtained using real-time PCR. Circulating IGFBP-2 was positively associated with insulin sensitivity, in agreement with previous studies. IGFBP-2 expression was associated with fat mass percentage (r = 0.656; P < 0.02), insulin sensitivity (r = -0.604; P < 0.05), free IGF-I (r = 0.646; P < 0.05), and leptin (r = 0.603; P < 0.05), but not with circulating IGFBP-2 (r = 0.003, P = ns). The association between IGFBP-2 expression and adiposity (r = 0.648; P < 0.05) was independent of insulin sensitivity (covariate). In conclusion, circulating IGFBP-2 was positively associated with insulin sensitivity. IGFBP-2 was expressed by subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes of obese children and increased with adiposity, independently from the level of insulin sensitivity. IGFBP-2 expression may potentially be one of the local mechanisms used by adipocytes to limit further fat gain.
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