Increased expression of the adipocytokine omentin in the epicardial adipose tissue of coronary artery disease patients

Background and aims Omentin, an adipocytokine secreted by visceral adipose tissue, protects against obesity-linked cardiovascular complications. However, little is known about its role in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the expression of omentin in EAT from CAD subjects. Methods EAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT), and plasma samples were collected from CAD (n = 15; 23.3 ± 3.1 kg/m²) and non-CAD patients (n = 10; 20.8 ± 3.9 kg/m²). Omentin mRNA expression was measured using real-time PCR, while plasma concentrations were measured using an ELISA. EAT volume was determined with 64-slice computed tomography. Results Omentin expression in EAT and EAT volume were higher in CAD patients compared with controls (2.49 ± 2.6 vs. 0.85 ± 0.3, p = 0.002 and 113 ± 58 ml vs. 92.4 ± 30 ml, p = 0.045, respectively). Omentin expression in SCAT was similar between CAD and control patients (1.37 ± 0.84 vs. 1.07 ± 0.55, p = 0.267). Plasma omentin levels were lower in CAD patients compared with controls (343 ± 158 ng/ml vs. 751 ± 579 ng/ml, p = 0.025), and were negatively associated with the expression of omentin in EAT, in patients with CAD (β = −0.78, p = 0.049). On the other hand, there was no association between omentin in EAT and clinical variables in patients with non-CAD. Conclusions Omentin expression increases in the EAT of non-obese CAD patients, despite a decrease in plasma levels, suggesting that omentin may play a role in the pathogenesis of CAD.