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Brown adipocyte progenitor population is modified in obese and diabetic skeletal muscle

International Journal of Obesity volume 36, pages 155–158 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue mitochondria express the unique thermogenic uncoupling protein-1. Recently, brown adipocyte progenitors have been identified in the CD34+ cell population of human skeletal muscle. The aims of this study were firstly to determine if obesity and diabetes have altered amounts of muscle brown adipocyte progenitors and, secondly, to establish if the latter are correlated with clinical parameters of obesity and diabetes. Body mass index (BMI), plasma glucose, insulin, cholesterol and triglycerides as well as homeostasis model assessment were measured in lean (n=10), obese (n=18) and obese-diabetic (n=15) subjects and muscle biopsies were taken from the rectus abdominus. CD34 being also expressed on endothelial cells, we measured CD31, another endothelial marker, and expressed the brown adipocyte progenitors, as the CD34/CD31 mRNA ratio. The latter was significantly reduced in the obese vs lean subjects suggesting a smaller pool of brown adipocyte progenitors. More strinkingly, for lean and obese subjects negative correlations were observed between the CD34/CD31 mRNA ratios and BMI, fasting insulin levels and homeostasis model assessment. These correlations highlight the potential physiological relevance of the muscle CD34/CD31 mRNA ratio.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the surgeons, Dr Simon Woods FRACS, Monash University Academic Surgery Unit, Cabrini Hospital and Dr Mark Lawrence, Network Director, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayside Health. We wish to thank Rani Watts and Petra Gran for their technical assistance. APR was supported by an NH&MRC Biomedical Career Developmental Award (479536).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, New South Wales, Australia

    A P Russell & D Cameron-Smith

  2. Stem Cell Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    M Crisan, M Corselli, B Péault & J-P Giacobino

  3. Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Stem Cell Institute for Regenerative Medicine,

    M Crisan

  4. Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    M Crisan

  5. Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, SUVA Care, Sion, Switzerland

    B Léger

  6. School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    A J McAinch

  7. Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), Monash University, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    P E O'Brien

  8. McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    B Péault

  9. Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR 5241 Métabolisme, Plasticité et Mitochondrie, Toulouse, France

    L Casteilla

  10. CNRS, UMR 5241 Métabolisme, Plasticité et Mitochondrie, Toulouse, France

    L Casteilla

  11. Département de Biochimie Médicale, Centre Médical Universitaire, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    J-P Giacobino

Authors
  1. A P Russell
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  2. M Crisan
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  3. B Léger
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  4. M Corselli
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  5. A J McAinch
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  6. P E O'Brien
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  7. D Cameron-Smith
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  8. B Péault
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  9. L Casteilla
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  10. J-P Giacobino
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J-P Giacobino.

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Russell, A., Crisan, M., Léger, B. et al. Brown adipocyte progenitor population is modified in obese and diabetic skeletal muscle. Int J Obes 36, 155–158 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.85

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