Abstract
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) plays a role in cardiac physiology and may contribute
to the development of coronary artery disease. Our objective was to determine whether
there was a significant difference in gene expression in EAT compared to subcutaneous
adipose tissue (SAT) and to identify potential relationships. MEDLINE and EMBASE were
searched using the key terms “Epicardial Adipose Tissue” or “Epicardial Fat” in combination
with “RNA”, “mRNA”, or “gene”. The entry criteria were studies that presented primary
data including expression levels of mRNA in human EAT compared with SAT and an expression
of variance (SD). Genes identified by 2 or more studies were evaluated. Genes that
showed significant change in expression between EAT and SAT were examined using the
Gene Functional Classification analytical tool in Database for Annotation, Visualization
and Integrated Discovery and cross-validated by ToppGene. Seventeen genes were identified
from 25 studies. Meta-analysis showed that 10 genes (ADORA1, adiponectin, AGT, ADM,
CATA, IL-1β, MCP-1, RBP-4, TNF-α, UCP-1) were significantly different in EAT. Gene
Functional Classification analysis yielded 23 clusters with significant relationships.
The top clusters were focused on responses to glucocorticoid stimulus, regulation
of apoptosis, cellular ion homeostasis, and responses to hormone stimulus. Genetic
analysis shows that EAT is discretely different from SAT. ADORA1, adiponectin, AGT,
ADM, CATA, IL-1β, MCP-1, RBP-4, TNF-α, and UCP-1 may play significant roles in the
unique physiology of EAT and/or its role in pathophysiology, through mechanisms as
diverse as steroid hormone responses and regulation of apoptosis.
Key words
Epicardial fat - angiotensinogen - interleukin 1 beta - monocyte chemoattractant protein
1 - tumor necrosis factor - adiponectin - UCP-1
