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Adenovirus 36 DNA in human adipose tissue

International Journal of Obesity volume 39, pages 1761–1764 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Recent studies have suggested a possible correlation between obesity and adenovirus 36 (Adv36) infection in humans. As information on adenoviral DNA presence in human adipose tissue are limited, we evaluated the presence of Adv36 DNA in adipose tissue of 21 adult overweight or obese patients. Total DNA was extracted from adipose tissue biopsies. Virus detection was performed using PCR protocols with primers against specific Adv36 fiber protein and the viral oncogenic E4orf1 protein nucleotide sequences. Sequences were aligned with the NCBI database and phylogenetic analyses were carried out with MEGA6 software. Adv36 DNA was found in four samples (19%). This study indicates that some individuals carry Adv36 in the visceral adipose tissue. Further studies are needed to determine the specific effect of Adv36 infection on adipocytes, the prevalence of Adv36 infection and its relationship with obesity in the perspective of developing a vaccine that could potentially prevent or mitigate infection.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Professor Richard L. Atkinson for advices about the methods of the study, Virginia Commonwealth University; Director, Obetech Obesity Research Center 800 East Leigh St, Suite 50 Richmond, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Medical Pathophysiology Food Science and Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    E Ponterio, S Mariani & L Gnessi

  2. Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    R Cangemi

  3. Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    G Casella

  4. Department of Surgery ‘Pietro Valdoni’, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    A De Cesare

  5. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Internal Medicine Division, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    F M Trovato

  6. Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    A Garozzo

Authors
  1. E Ponterio
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  2. R Cangemi
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  3. S Mariani
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  4. G Casella
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  5. A De Cesare
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  6. F M Trovato
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  7. A Garozzo
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  8. L Gnessi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E Ponterio.

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Ponterio, E., Cangemi, R., Mariani, S. et al. Adenovirus 36 DNA in human adipose tissue. Int J Obes 39, 1761–1764 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.163

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.163

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