Inflammatory Gene Expression in Neck Perivascular and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Men With Carotid Stenosis

Abstract

The inflammatory phenotype of neck adipose tissue (NAT) might reflect its involvement in the pathogenesis of carotid atherosclerosis. We investigated inflammatory gene expression in the subcutaneous and the perivascular (pericarotid) adipose tissue from patients with carotid stenosis (CS) undergoing endarterectomy and a control group of patients without significant carotid atherosclerosis undergoing thyroid surgery. Only male patients were included (n = 13 in each study group). Clinical and biochemical data along with serum leptin, adiponectin, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) were collected. Adipose tissue samples were obtained from both the subcutaneous and pericarotid compartments. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure gene expression of macrophage markers and adipokines. The CS group had higher subcutaneous and pericarotid visfatin gene expression and higher pericarotid expression of MCP-1 and CD68 genes. The ratio between pericarotid CD206 and CD68 gene expression was similar between study groups. Adiponectin gene expression in both NAT compartments did not differ between groups, but it was negatively associated with body weight. These observations suggest that NAT, and especially the pericarotid compartment, express enhanced inflammatory properties in patients with CS, but the proportion of anti-inflammatory macrophages in advanced atherosclerosis seems to be maintained.

Perivascular Adipose-Derived Exosomes Reduce Foam Cell Formation by Regulating Expression of Cholesterol Transporters

“…The differences between PVAT and SCAT have been addressed. Compared with pericarotid adipose tissue, the MCP-1 gene expression was significantly higher in SCAT, while in patients with carotid stenosis the expression was lower in SCAT (16). The pro-inflammatory mediator IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1 and adiponectin were found more abundant in SCAT vs. PVAT (17), suggesting the proinflammatory phenotype is attenuated in PVAT.…”

Perivascular Adipose Tissue: Pathophysiological Links With Inflammation, Atherosclerosis, and Thrombosis

“…Adiponectin and CD206 gene expression did not differ between the CS and the control group in any of the examined NAT compartments. 1 In contrast, MCP-1 and CD68 gene expression was significantly higher in PCAT in the CS versus the control group ( P = .034 and .029, respectively), whereas their expression in SAT did not differ. Furthermore, visfatin gene expression was higher in both PCAT ( P = .029) and SAT ( P = .028) in CS patients than controls.…”

“…Furthermore, visfatin gene expression was higher in both PCAT ( P = .029) and SAT ( P = .028) in CS patients than controls. 1 Within each study group, gene expression was similar in PCAT and SAT, with the exception of MCP-1 gene, being significantly expressed more in SAT compared with PCAT in the control group ( P = .023). Overall, the enhanced gene expression of both MCP-1 and CD68 in PCAT in the CS versus the control group highlights the involvement of inflammation in PCAT in the development of carotid atherosclerosis.…”

“…As expected, statin use was significantly more frequent in the CS group (8/13 vs 2/13; P = .021), resulting in a marginally lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (2.3 vs 3.5 mmol/L; P = .05). As stated by the authors, 1 whether this difference affected the results could not be determined.…”

“…In this issue of Angiology , Pandzic Jaksic et al 1 evaluated the gene expression of certain inflammatory markers (ie, CD68 and CD206) and adipokines (ie, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1], adiponectin and visfatin) in neck adipose tissue (NAT) of patients with carotid stenosis (CS) undergoing endarterectomy (CS group, n = 13 men) and patients without significant carotid atherosclerosis undergoing thyroid surgery (control group, n = 13 men). Gene expression was evaluated in pericarotid adipose tissue (PCAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT).…”