Stage dependent alteration of subcutaneous adipose tissue function in lipedema

Einleitung Lipedema is characterized by abnormal accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in extremities, leading to severe pain and limited mobility. Disease progression is marked by stage-dependent morphological tissue changes, accumulation of fibrotic areas, and increased immune cell activation in affected regions. The molecular mechanisms regulating compositional changes in adipose tissue, and to what extent the modulation of inflammation is cause or consequence in the pathogenesis of lipedema, remain unclear.

Methoden Characteristics of SAT biopsies of lipedema patients ranging from stages I to III were compared to biopsies of BMI- and age matched controls by evaluation of gene expression by RNA-sequencing and adipocyte function by molecular analyses.

Ergebnisse Lipedema-related morphological and functional changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue are mostly limited to affected regions. Transcriptomic profiling revealed induction of pathways linked to inflammation and lipid metabolism. These changes were accompanied by alterations in the fatty acid composition of adipocytes, mainly in affected regions, which were also reflected in the plasma of lipedema patients.

Schlussfolgerung The identification of specific pathways and functional changes in distinct cell populations will help characterize the progression of lipedema, staging and occurrence of co-morbidities. These analyses might serve for the identification of a predictive biomarker to improve the treatment of lipedema.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
20. September 2024