Brown adipose tissue and associated metabolites in women with different cardiometabolic health phenotypes

Abstract

Obesity without metabolic alterations represents a unique model for studying the mechanisms related to increased body adiposity. Given the potential importance of the interrelationships of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT), its modulators and by-products with the different metabolic phenotypes of Obesity coupled with the scarcity of scientific studies comparing BAT activity, and the profile of batokines, microRNAs, irisin and Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) between the "metabolically healthy obese" and "metabolically unhealthy obese" phenotypes, opens the opportunity for a better understanding of Obesity as a disease from this perspective. Objective: To compare BAT activity and concentrations of batokines and plAsma microRNA among adult women with the three phenotypes: metabolically healthy normal weight, metabolically healthy obese, and metabolically unhealthy obese. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study, with 108 women, equally distributed among the aforementioned phenotypes. BMI will be the normality criterion for body weight and the definition of metabolic health will consider the absence of metabolic syndrome. Anthropometric assessment will include waist and neck circumferences and sagittal abdominal diameter. Body composition will be assessed by densitometry and BAT activity by infrared thermographic camera. The irisin and the bathochines Angptl8, Nrg4T and FGF21 will be dosed by ELISA. MicroRNAs will be quantified by sequencing technique. Indirect calorimetry will be used to evaluate resting energy expenditure (REE), respiratory quotient and oxidation of energy substrates at rest. PlAsma SCFA will be dosed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometer. Prospects: We hope to better understand the pathophysiology of Obesity and open new avenues for future therapeutic approaches that increase Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) and/or energy substrate consumption as a strategy for prevention and/or treatment of Obesity and beneficial for metabolic health. (AU)