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Plasma pigment epithelium-derived factor is positively associated with obesity in Caucasian subjects, in particular with the visceral fat depot

Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

(Correspondence should be addressed to E C M Mariman; Email: e.mariman{at}hb.unimaas.nl)

^* (P Wang and E Smit contributed equally to this work)

Objective: Adipose tissue releases factors (adipokines) that influence local, peripheral as well as central processes. In the present study, we determined the relationship between plasma concentration of a recently identified adipokine, pigment epithelium-derived factor (SERPINF1), and human obesity, particularly specific adipose tissue depots, and other features of the metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We examined the plasma concentration of SERPINF1, anthropometric parameters, abdominal s.c. and visceral adipose tissue, lipid, glucose, insulin, and alanine aminotransferase level in a non-diabetic general Caucasian population (n=59).

Results: Plasma SERPINF1 level in males (6.2±2.1 µg/ml) was higher than in females (3.1±1.4 µg/ml; P<0.001). Plasma SERPINF1 was positively correlated with age and all features of metabolic syndrome. However, in multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment for age and gender, only visceral fat thickness (β=0.361, P=0.010) and body mass index (β=0.288, P=0.008) were significant independent determinants of plasma SERPINF1 level, together with gender (β=–0.424, P<0.001).

Conclusions: We conclude that the plasma SERPINF1 level is strongly associated with body adiposity, in particular with the visceral fat depot in the non-diabetic general population. This association may (partly) explain the relationship between SERPINF1 and metabolic syndrome in this population.