The association of human adipose angiotensinogen gene expression with abdominal fat distribution in obesity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate in obese subjects the relationship between angiotensinogen gene expression in the abdominal omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue on the one hand and body fat distribution as measured by waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) on the other hand and to compare angiotensinogen gene expression between the two adipose tissue regions. SUBJECTS: Twenty obese subjects undergoing weight reduction surgery with adjustable gastric banding (12 men, eight women; WHR 0.89 - 1.09; body mass index (BMI) 29 - 51 kg/m(2), age 26 - 54 y). MEASUREMENTS: Omental and subcutaneous adipose angiotensinogen mRNA and 18S ribosomal RNA (reference gene) levels were measured by competitive quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Angiotensinogen mRNA levels were one-third higher in the omental than in the subcutaneous adipose tissue region (P = 0.02), The 18S rRNA levels did not differ significantly between the two adipose tissue regions. WHR correlated positively and significantly with angiotensinogen mRNA in both the subcutaneous and the omental adipose tissue (r = 0.5), This relationship was independent of age and BMI. However. WHR did not correlate with 18S rRNA in any of the adipose tissue regions. CONCLUSION: The angiotensinogen gene in adipose tissue might be involved in the development of upper-body obesity.