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Epicardial adipose tissue has a unique transcriptome modified in severe coronary artery disease
Author(s) -
McAninch Elizabeth A.,
Fonseca Tatiana L.,
Poggioli Raffaella,
Panos Anthony L.,
Salerno Tomas A.,
Deng Youping,
Li Yan,
Bianco Antonio C.,
Iacobellis Gianluca
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.21059
Subject(s) - transcriptome , adipose tissue , coronary artery disease , medicine , downregulation and upregulation , biology , bioinformatics , gene expression , gene , genetics
Objective To explore the transcriptome of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) as compared to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and its modifications in a small number of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) versus valvulopathy. Methods SAT and EAT samples were obtained during elective cardiothoracic surgeries. The transcriptome of EAT was evaluated, as compared to SAT, using an unbiased, whole‐genome approach in subjects with CAD ( n = 6) and without CAD ( n = 5), where the patients without CAD had cardiac valvulopathy. Results Relative to SAT, EAT is a highly inflammatory tissue enriched with genes involved in endothelial function, coagulation, immune signaling, potassium transport, and apoptosis. EAT is lacking in expression of genes involved in protein metabolism, tranforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐beta) signaling, and oxidative stress. Although underpowered, in subjects with severe CAD, there is an expression trend suggesting widespread downregulation of EAT encompassing a diverse group of gene sets related to intracellular trafficking, proliferation/transcription regulation, protein catabolism, innate immunity/lectin pathway, and ER stress. Conclusions The EAT transcriptome is unique when compared to SAT. In the setting of CAD versus valvulopathy, there is possible alteration of the EAT transcriptome with gene suppression. This pilot study explores the transcriptome of EAT in CAD and valvulopathy, providing new insight into its physiologic and pathophysiologic roles.