Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter October 1, 2010

Endocannabinoid (EC) Receptor, CB1, and EC Enzymes' Expression in Primary Adipocyte Cultures of Lean and Obese Pre-pubertal Children in Relation to Adiponectin and Insulin

  • Alexia Karvela , Andrea Paola Rojas-Gil , Efstratia Samkinidou , Helen Papadaki , Aliki Pappa , George Georgiou and Bessie E. Spiliotis

ABSTRACT

Aim: The over-expression of CB1 in adult obesity is associated with insulin resistance (IR), but it is not elucidated in childhood obesity. We studied CB1 and endocannabinoid enzymes (EE), Adiponectin (Ad), and Insulin(SI) in lean and obese pre-pubertal(PP) children.

Methods: CB1 mRNA and protein (Pr) expression were studied by RT-PCR, western immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in primary cultures of adipose tissue. The EE(NAPE-PLD, DAGL-α, FAAH, MAGL) expression was assessed by Real-Time PCR. Ad and SI were measured by ELISA and IR by HOMA-IR index.

Results: In the older obese vs older lean children: (1) CB1 Pr was decreased, (2) FAAHmRNA and DAGL-α mRNA were increased. Ad was decreased and SI and HOMA-IR increased in the older PP children.

Conclusions: Increased CB1 and decreased adiponectin in older lean PP children may facilitate fat deposition and “physiologic” IR necessary for the increased body growth of puberty. The reduced expression of CB1 in the older obese may be an attempt to reduce lipogenesis to avoid greater insulin resistance.


Corresponding author: Bessie E. Spiliotis, MD,

Published Online: 2010-October
Published in Print: 2010-October

© Freund Publishing House Ltd.

Downloaded on 19.3.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jpem.2010.162/html
Scroll to top button