Downregulated adipose tissue expression of browning genes with increased environmental temperatures.

Climate change and global warming have been hypothesized to influence the increased prevalence of obesity worldwide. However, the evidence is scarce. The expression of genes involved in thermogenesis/browning and adipogenesis were evaluated (through qPCR) in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from 1,083 subjects recruited in five different regions of Spain (3 in the North and 2 in the South). Plasma biochemical variables and adiponectin (ELISA) were collected through standardized protocols. Mean environmental outdoor temperatures were obtained from the National Agency of Meteorology. Univariate, multivariate and artificial intelligence analyses (Boruta algorithm) were performed. The SAT expression of genes associated with browning (UCP1, PRDM16 and CIDEA) and ADIPOQ were significantly and negatively associated with minimum, average and maximum temperatures. The latter temperatures were also negatively associated with the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis (FASN, SLC2A4 and PLIN1). Decreased SAT expression of UCP1 and ADIPOQ mRNA and circulating adiponectin were observed with increasing temperatures in all the subjects as a whole and within subjects with obesity in univariate, multivariate and artificial intelligence analyses. The differences remained significant in subjects without type 2 diabetes and in samples collected during winter. Decreased adipose tissue expression of genes involved in browning and adiponectin with increased environmental temperatures were observed. Given the North-South gradient of obesity prevalence in these same regions, current observations could have implications for the relationship of the obesity pandemic with global warming.

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