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Metabolic and genetic predictors of circulating adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein
A Tönjes1, S Kralisch, U Lössner
1Medical Department III, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 18, Leipzig, Germany.
Background:
Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP) was recently introduced as a novel adipokine playing an important role in glucose homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum AFABP levels and metabolic, as well as cardiovascular parameters, in the self-contained population of Sorbs. Furthermore, we conducted a genome-wide association study on serum AFABP concentrations in the Sorbs and we separately analyzed the effects of two common variants in the FABP4 gene on AFABP serum concentration.
Methods:
Serum AFABP concentrations were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and correlated with metabolic and cardiovascular parameters, as well as inflammatory markers and renal function, in 868 well-characterized non-diabetic Sorbs from Germany.
Results:
Median AFABP serum concentrations were 1.5-fold higher in female subjects (23.03 μg l(-1)) as compared to male subjects (15.86 μg l(-1)). Waist-to-height ratio and glomerular filtration rate were independently associated with AFABP concentrations in multiple regression analysis in both female and male subjects. The genome-wide scan for association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms with serum AFABP levels in the Sorbs revealed 39 loci reaching P-values <10(-4). Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, rs16909187 and rs10808846, representing common genetic variation in FABP4 did not show any effect on serum AFABP concentrations in our study cohort.
Conclusion:
AFABP serum concentrations are determined by parameters of fat distribution, renal function and gender.
