Adiponectin gene expression in local fat depots in patients with coronary heart disease depending on the degree of coronary lesion

Aim. To determine the dependence of adiponectin gene expression by subcutaneous, epicardial and perivascular adipocytes on the degree of coronary lesion in coronary heart disease. Materials and methods. 84 patients with coronary artery disease were examined. Of these, 39 people showed a moderate degree of atherosclerotic lesion of the coronary bed (less than or equal to 22 points) on the SYNTAX Score scale, 20 – severe (22–31 points), and 25 – extremely severe (more than 32 points). Upon admission to the hospital, all patients underwent an echocardiographic study (Echocardiography, Acuson, Germany) with the calculation of the ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (LV) to assess its systolic function. During a planned surgical intervention (coronary bypass surgery, CABG), adipocytes of subcutaneous, epicardial (EAT) and perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) were taken. Adiponectin gene expression was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) using TaqMan probes. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 9.0. Results. The maximum level of adiponectin expression was detected in adipocytes of PVAT, and the minimum – EAT. With an increase in the degree of atherosclerotic lesion of the coronary bed, the expression of the adiponectin gene in adipocytes of local depots significantly decreases r =-0.82; p =0.023. Moreover, the low level of gene expression in EAT correlated with a decrease in LV EF by r =0.73; p =0.03. In adipocytes of subcutaneous and especially PVAT, gene expression was the highest in patients with a moderate degree of coronary lesion. Conclusions. Low adiponectin gene expression in EAT is associated with an increase in the degree of atherosclerotic lesion of the coronary bed and a decrease in LV EF.