1. ^*Departments of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
2. ^†Department of Surgery, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

Correspondence: Renzo Cordera Viale Benedetto XV 6, 16132 Genova, Italy. E-mail: record@unige.it

^*The costs of publication of this article were defrayed, in part, by the payment of page charges. This article must, therefore, be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 27 December 2005; Accepted 30 June 2006.

Abstract

Objective: Our objective was to test the effect of biliopancreatic diversion (BDP) in adiponectin multimerization. Adiponectin, the major protein secreted by adipose tissue, circulates in plasma in different isoforms. The most clinically relevant oligomers are high-molecular weight (HMW) multimers and low-molecular weight (LMW) trimers. Contrasting data on the effect of weight loss on adiponectin isoforms have been reported.

Research Methods and Procedures: We measured total plasma adiponectin and HMW and LMW adiponectin oligomers (by Western blot analysis) before and 1 month after BPD, in 18 severely obese subjects.

Results: One month after BPD, body weight decreased 11% . Total adiponectin showed significant increase after BPD. In addition, we found a significant increase in HMW (percentage) adiponectin oligomers. We found a significant inverse correlation between HMW (percentage) and BMI before and after BPD. Homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance decreased significantly after the BPD, without any significant correlation with total serum adiponectin and adiponectin oligomers.

Discussion: A moderate weight loss after BPD increases total and HMW adiponectin oligomers. The significant correlation between BMI and HMW (percentage) adiponectin oligomers but not between BMI and total adiponectin might indicate a role of body fat mass in regulation of adiponectin multimerization. These data suggest that HMW oligomers represent a very sensitive parameter to short-term BMI changes after BPD.