Circulating Pancreatic Polypeptide Concentrations Predict Visceral and Liver Fat Content

Abstract

Context and objective:No current biomarker can reliably predict visceral and liver fat content, both of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Vagal tone has been suggested to influence regional fat deposition. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is secreted from the endocrine pancreas under vagal control. We investigated the utility of PP in predicting visceral and liver fat.Patients and Methods:Fasting plasma PP concentrations were measured in 104 overweight and obese subjects (46 men and 58 women). In the same subjects, total and regional adipose tissue, including total visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and total subcutaneous adipose tissue (TSAT), were measured using whole-body magnetic resonance imaging. Intrahepatocellular lipid content (IHCL) was quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Results:Fasting plasma PP concentrations positively and significantly correlated with both VAT (r = 0.57, P < .001) and IHCL (r = 0.51, P < .001), but not with TSAT (r = 0.02, P = .88). Fasting PP concentrations independently predicted VAT after controlling for age and sex. Fasting PP concentrations independently predicted IHCL after controlling for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, homeostatic model assessment 2-insulin resistance, (HOMA2-IR) and serum concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Fasting PP concentrations were associated with serum ALT, TG, TC, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood pressure (P < .05). These associations were mediated by IHCL and/or VAT. Fasting PP and HOMA2-IR were independently significantly associated with hepatic steatosis (P < .01).Conclusions:Pancreatic polypeptide is a novel predictor of visceral and liver fat content, and thus a potential biomarker for cardiovascular risk stratification and targeted treatment of patients with ectopic fat deposition.

Relationship between pancreatic hormones and glucose metabolism: A cross-sectional study in patients after acute pancreatitis

“…Pancreatic polypeptide, a 36-amino-acid peptide, is released from the pancreatic polypeptide cells (31). It inhibits pancreatic exocrine secretion, food intake, gastric emptying, and gallbladder contraction (31).…”

“…Pancreatic polypeptide, a 36-amino-acid peptide, is released from the pancreatic polypeptide cells (31). It inhibits pancreatic exocrine secretion, food intake, gastric emptying, and gallbladder contraction (31). Although the majority of previous studies have investigated meal-induced pancreatic polypeptide secretion, several studies in the settings of both pancreatic diseases and type 2 DM have studied fasting pancreatic polypeptide.…”

Profile of Gut Hormones, Pancreatic Hormones and Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in New Zealand Maori

“…However, a recent study by Arosio et al [ 45 ] showed that intravenous administration of ghrelin in healthy subjects resulted in increased fasting levels of PP. Pancreatic polypeptide is also associated with adiposity and has been demonstrated to be a biomarker of abdominal adiposity [ 46 ] as well as a biomarker for visceral and intra-hepatocellular fat content in overweight individuals [ 47 ]. Pancreatic polypeptide levels are known to differ between ethnicities, where in Pima Indians PP is elevated (both in fasting state and postprandially) compared to Caucasians [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Constant hepatic ATP concentrations during prolonged fasting and absence of effects of Cerbomed Nemos® on parasympathetic tone and hepatic energy metabolism

“…Plasma glucagon was measured by radioimmunoassay (Millipore, St. Charles, Miss, USA). Serum PP was measured using an established radioimmunoassay in the Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London [25] . Briefly, 100 μl of sample were added to 600 μl of 0.05 M phosphate buffer with 0.3% bovine serum albumin (BSA) w/v containing antibody (titer 1:860,000).…”