Adipocyte and epidermal fatty acid-binding protein serum concentrations in patients with lipodystrophy

Abstract

Objective: Lipodystrophy (LD) syndromes are associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, and coronary artery disease. One pathogenetic factor of LD is dysregulation of several adipokines. However, the insulin resistance- and dyslipidemia-promoting adipokines adipocyte (AFABP) and epidermal (EFABP) fatty acid-binding protein have not been investigated in non-HIV-associated LD so far.

Material and methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of AFABP and EFABP serum concentrations in 37 LD patients and 37 age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls. Moreover, AFABP and EFABP were correlated to clinical and biochemical parameters of inflammation, glucose control, and lipid metabolism.

Results: There was no significant difference in median circulating AFABP and EFABP levels between LD patients (21.7μg/l and 7.5μg/l, respectively) and healthy controls (24.5μg/l and 8.6μg/l, respectively). Neither AFABP nor EFABP were related to markers of impaired glucose control or lipid metabolism. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive and independent association of AFABP with gender, serum leptin levels, and body mass index.

Conclusions: Circulating levels of AFABP and EFABP are not decreased in LD despite adipose tissue loss in contrast to other adipokines including leptin and adiponectin.

Keywords: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein; Diabetes mellitus; Epidermal fatty acid-binding protein; Insulin resistance; Lipodystrophy; Obesity.