Emerging evidence for the opposite role of circulating irisin levels and brown adipose tissue activity measured by infrared thermography in anthropometric and metabolic profile during childhood

Author(s)

De Meneck, Franciele ^[1] ; de Souza, Livia Victorino ^[1] ; Brioschi, Marcos Leal ^[2] ; Franco, Maria do Carmo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Div Nephrol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Div Neurol Surg, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Thermal Biology; v. 99, JUL 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Irisin is an adipomyokine that increases browning of adipose tissue and thermogenesis, thereby protecting against obesity and insulin resistance. However, the correlation between irisin, brown adipose tissue (BAT), and childhood obesity, as well as its association with an increased risk of developing metabolic diseases, has not been completely elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the association between irisin levels and BAT activity measured by infrared thermography among children and verify their correlation with anthropometric and metabolic parameters. This study included 42 children with normal weight and 18 overweight/obese children. Anthropometric data, irisin levels, lipid and glucose profile were evaluated. The percentage of the thermally active portion of the supraclavicular area (%AreaSCR) before and after a cold stimulus was measured by infrared thermography, and the differences between the percentages of thermally active (Delta%AreaSCR) was calculated as an index of BAT activation. The results were correlated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters. Circulating irisin levels was positive correlated with age (rho=0.327, P=0.011), body mass index (BMI) (rho=0.707, P<0.001), waist circumference (rho=0.624, P<0.001), total cholesterol (rho=0.361, P=0.044), triglycerides (rho=0.419, P=0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) (rho=0.381, P=0.003). Active BAT was negatively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, LDLc and irisin levels. We observed that normal weight children increased significantly the Delta% Area(SCR) as compared to overweight/obese children. In conclusion, circulating irisin levels and BAT activity appear to have opposing roles, since normal weight children had greater BAT activity and lower circulating levels of irisin. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/04013-3 - Quantification of the endothelial microparticles and analysis of the miRNA profile: evaluation of the impact on the interrelation between birth weight, blood pressure levels and endothelial function in children from 6 to 12 years of age
• Grantee: Maria Do Carmo Pinho Franco
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/08361-3 - Evaluating recreational physical exercise, birth weight, pressure levels and components of renin-angiotensin-kallikrein-kinin system interactions in children
• Grantee: Livia Victorino de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral