Pigment epithelium-Derived Factor (PEDF) Varies with Body Composition and Insulin Resistance in Healthy Young People

Abstract

Context: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) was recently implicated as a metabolic regulatory protein because plasma concentration was increased in obese or insulin resistant adults. To our knowledge, circulating PEDF values in children have not been reported. Because PEDF is a predictor of metabolic health in adults, it may have a similar impact on metabolic profiles in children.Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether PEDF in normal-weight (NW) and overweight/obese (OW) children and young adults varies with age, sex, or body composition or is associated with clinical markers of metabolic disease.Setting: Volunteers were tested at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.Participants: Ninety-one NW (8 -30 yr old) and 105 OW (8 -35 yr old) males and females participated in the study. Main Outcome Measures:Body composition, blood pressure, arterial compliance, fasting plasma PEDF, glucose, insulin, (used for homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), triglycerides, cholesterol (total, low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein), and C-reactive protein.Results: PEDF was 60% higher in the OW vs. NW participants but did not differ between males and females. PEDF was positively correlated with body mass, body mass index, fat and lean mass, fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in both the NW and OW groups. Multiple regression models revealed that fat and lean mass were significant predictors of circulating PEDF levels independent of age, sex, and body mass index category. Conclusions:Plasma PEDF is elevated in OW youth and is positively associated with insulin resistance. These findings suggest that PEDF may play a role in the development of cardiometabolic dysfunction in youth. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97: E2114 -E2118, 2012)

Elevated plasma pigment epithelium-derived factor in children with type 2 diabetes mellitus is attributable to obesity

“…Our group recently reported that PEDF is increased in overweight/obese children compared with normal weight controls and positively associated in children with BMI and insulin resistance . Although PEDF was reported to be increased in adults with T2DM the non‐T2DM group in that study had significantly lower BMI so it was not clear whether the difference in PEDF was attributable to obesity or diabetes.…”

Oral Contraception vs Insulin Sensitization for 18 Months in Nonobese Adolescents With Androgen Excess: Posttreatment Differences in C-Reactive Protein, Intima-Media Thickness, Visceral Adiposity, Insulin Sensitivity, and Menstrual Regularity

“…Circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), lipids, SHBG, testosterone, high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) (only at 0, 18, and 24 months) (8) were measured together with safety assessments (blood count and circulating creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase).…”

n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids provoke a specific transcriptional profile in rabbit adipose‐derived stem cells in vitro

“…Recently, PEDF has been defined as one of the most abundant adipokines, able to activate several signalling pathways, which in turn lead to insulin resistance (Borg et al, ). A few years ago, Sunderland et al () reported that plasma PEDF was elevated in overweight youth (Sunderland et al, ). In our study, PEDF mRNA was significantly up‐regulated by EPA only in visceral, but not in subcutaneous cells (Figure b).…”