Characterization of brown adipose tissue of individuals diagnosed with Congenital Ganeralized Lipodystrophy compared to obese dysmetabolic, obese eumetabolic and eutrophic eumetabolic

• Grant number: 20/12112-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2021
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Licio Augusto Velloso
• Grantee: Maria Eduarda Martelli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07607-8 - OCRC - Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/10432-0 - Exploring the brown adipose tissue in Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy and Familial Partial Lipodystrophy, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) is being studied as a possible therapeutic target of obesity and its complications due to its function of regulating energy, glucose and lipid homeotasis. Little is known about the functionality of BAT in congenital generalized lipodystrophy (LGC). However, studies in rodents have demonstrated atrophy of this tissue in knock out animals for the Bscl-2 gene. Objective: Check for brown adipose tissue in congenital generalized lipodystrophy. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 235 patients allocated to 4 groups: 1) obese dysmetabolic; 2) obese eumetabolic ; 3) congenital generalized lipodystrophy and 4) eutrophic. Groups 1, 2 and 4 will be recruited at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of UNICAMP while group 3 (LGC) will be recruited at Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes (HUOL - UFRN) and Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio (HUWC - UFC). Body composition will be assessed by bone densitometry (DXA) and electrical bioimpedance. Weight, height, waist circumference and sagittal abdominal diameter will be collected. The energy expenditure will be measured by indirect calorimetry. Fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, lipid profile and batokines (NRG-4, S100-b, BMP-8b, FGF-21, CXC-14, myostatin, mtnrl, adiponectin) will be mensuared. BAT activity will be assessed by the infrared thermography technique after 120 minutes of exposure to cold with air conditioning at 18ºC. Perspectives: The clinical relevance lies in the possibility of bringing a new therapeutic focus to the management of this disease, if activation of this tissue is observed accompanied by improvements in the clinical complications. (AU)