Expression of syntaxin 8 in visceral adipose tissue is increased in obese patients with type 2 diabetes and related to markers of insulin resistance and inflammation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:
Obesity is associated with increased adipose tissue inflammation as well as with the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Syntaxin 8 (STX8) is a protein required for the transport of endosomes. In this study we analyzed the relationship of STX8 with the presence of T2D in the context of obesity.

METHODS:
With this purpose, 21 subjects (seven lean [LN], eight obese normoglycemic [OB-NG] and six obese with type 2 diabetes [OB-T2D]) were included in the study. Gene and protein expression levels of STX8 and GLUT4 were analyzed in visceral adipose tissue (VAT).

RESULTS:
mRNA (p = 0.008) and protein (p <0.001) expression levels of STX8 were significantly increased in VAT of OB-T2D patients. Moreover, gene expression levels of SLC2A4 (GLUT4) were downregulated (p = 0.002) in VAT of obese patients. We found that STX8 was positively correlated (p <0.05) with fasting glucose concentrations, plasma glucose 2 h after an OGTT and C-reactive protein. Interestingly, the expression of STX8 was negatively correlated (p <0.05) with the expression of SLC2A4 in VAT.

CONCLUSIONS:
Increased STX8 expression in VAT appears to be associated with the presence of T2D in obese patients through a mechanism that may involve GLUT4.

CITA DEL ARTÍCULO  Arch Med Res. 2015 Jan;46(1):47-53. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2014.12.003. Epub 2014 Dec 15.