ANGPTL8 (Betatrophin) is Expressed in Visceral Adipose Tissue and Relates to Human Hepatic Steatosis in Two Independent Clinical Collectives

authored by

Christian Von Loeffelholz, Andreas F.H. Pfeiffer, Johan F. Lock, Steffi Lieske, Stephanie Döcke, Veronica Murahovschi, Jennifer Kriebel, Tonia De Las Heras Gala, Harald Grallert, Natalia Rudovich, Martin Stockmann, Joachim Spranger, Gerhard Jahreis, Stefan R. Bornstein, George Lau, Aimin Xu, Jeanette Schulz-Menger, Louisa Exner, Sven Haufe, Jens Jordan, Stefan Engeli, Andreas L. Birkenfeld

Abstract

Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8)/betatrophin expression in visceral adipose tissue and associations with circulating fatty acid profile have not yet been investigated. Forty subjects were included in a cross-sectional study, 57 in a dietary weight reduction intervention. Circulating Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin was measured in all subjects. Liver and adipose tissue were sampled and plasma fatty acids and tissue Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin expression were evaluated in the cross-sectional study. In the intervention study oral glucose testing and liver magnetic resonance scanning at baseline and after 6 months were performed. Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin mRNA was increased in visceral compared to subcutaneous adipose tissue (p<0.001). Circulating ANGPTL8/betatrophin correlated with liver steatosis (r=0.42, p=0.047), triacylglycerols (r=0.34, p=0.046), saturated (r=0.43, p=0.022), monounsaturated (r=0.51, p=0.007), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (r=−0.53, p=0.004). In the intervention study, baseline Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin correlated with age (r=0.32, p=0.010) and triacylglycerols (r=0.30, p=0.02) and was increased with hepatic steatosis (p=0.033). Weight loss reduced liver fat by 45% and circulating Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin by 11% (288±17 vs. 258±17 pg/ml; p=0.015). Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin is related to liver steatosis, while visceral adipose tissue represents an additional site of expression in humans.

External Organisation(s)

German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE)
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg
University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden
Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health
The University of Hong Kong
Hannover Medical School (MHH)
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Technische Universität Dresden
King's College London
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association

Type

Article

Journal

Hormone and metabolic research

Volume

49

Pages

343-349

No. of pages

7

ISSN

0018-5043

Publication date

01.05.2017

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Biochemistry, Endocrinology, Clinical Biochemistry, Biochemistry, medical

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://elib.dlr.de/118757/1/Pub_Jordan_2017_5.pdf (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-102950 (Access: Closed)