Cross-sectional associations of acylation stimulating protein ( ASP) and adipose tissue gene expression with estradiol and progesterone in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Objective Sex steroid hormones play an important regulatory role in fat metabolism and obesity. We hypothesized involvement of interactions between ovarian hormones with acylation stimulating protein ( ASP). Design, patients and measurements In 392 women with wide age (18-69 years) and body size ( BMI: 17 to 90 kg/m2) ranges, fasting plasma levels of ASP, ovarian hormones, glucose, adiponectin and lipids/apolipoproteins were assessed, along with determination of metabolic syndrome ( MS) features. Gene expression of C3 ( ASP precursor) and related receptors C5 L2, C3a R and C5a R in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues was measured in a subset. Results Acylation stimulating protein correlated negatively with concentrations of estradiol ( P < 0·0001), adiponectin ( P < 0·001) and apolipoprotein A1 ( P < 0·001) and positively with apolipoprotein B levels ( P < 0·001), systolic blood pressure ( P < 0·001), waist circumference ( P < 0·001), and triglyceride concentrations ( P < 0·01). In age-matched groups of lean, overweight, metabolically healthy obese ( MHO) and obese with metabolic syndrome ( MSO), there was a stepwise increase in ASP levels ( P < 0·001) while concentrations of adiponectin ( P < 0·0001) and estradiol ( P < 0·001) but not those of progesterone decreased. Progesterone but not estradiol levels correlated positively with C3 gene expression in omental adipose tissue ( P < 0·05) and negatively with C5 L2 expression in both omental ( P < 0·01) and subcutaneous ( P < 0·05) adipose tissues. Conclusion Our results are consistent with the concept that sex hormones differentially influence circulating ASP and adipose tissue gene expression of its related proteins in a depot-specific manner. ASP may play a role in the regulation of regional fat metabolism through interactions with sex hormones in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]