Molecular and morphological characterization of superficial, deep and visceral adipose tissue in human obesity

Obesity has reached ‘epidemic’ levels across the world, challenging healthcare systems and economies in developed and developing countries. The national prevalence of obesity is 3.4%. Worldwide there are 4% of diabetes cases, 23%of ischemic heart disease, and 7–41% of certain cancers attributable to overweight and obesity. This occurs, at least partially, because of the obesity-induced insulin resistance. Adipose tissue is not only an energy reservoir but also a secretory endocrine organ of cytokines, hormones, and proteins that affect the functionality of cells and tissues all over the body. The role of SAT sub compartments is not well understood. SAT, conventionally regarded as a homogenous compartment, is anatomically separated by a stromal fascia into superficial (sSAT) and deep subcutaneous adipose tissue (dSAT). Adipose tissue can affect other tissues via endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signals. Visceral Adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation has unique biochemical characteristics that influence several normal and pathological processes in the human body. VAT and SAT depots, show subject-to-subject variation, dependent on age, gender, ethnicity, nutritional intake, and the autonomic regulation of energy homeostasis.

The increasing evidence of the complexity of fat metabolic patterns emphasizes the importance of studying adipose tissue at anatomic, cellular and molecular levels. In this study, RNA sequencing techniques will be employed for better investigation of the 3 specimens of fat in severely obese patients and non obese patients, aiming to further identify their specific molecular and morphological signatures. This will help us identify molecular genetic targets and/or pathways that are altered in obese individuals as compared to normative controls.

differences.