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Alterations of Socs1 and Socs3 Transcript Levels, But Not Promoter Methylation Levels in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues in Obese Women Publisher Pubmed



Emamgholipour S1 ; Esmaeili F1, 2 ; Shabani M1, 3 ; Hasanpour SZ4 ; Pilehvari M1 ; Zabihimahmoudabadi H5 ; Motevasseli M6 ; Shanaki M4
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Student Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: BMC Endocrine Disorders Published:2023


Abstract

Background: Animal model studies suggest that change in the members of the suppressor of the cytokine signaling (SOCS) family (mainly SOCS1 and SOCS3) is linked to the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic disorders. Moreover, epigenetic modification is involved in the transcriptional regulation of the SOCS gene family. Here, we aimed to evaluate the mRNA expression as well as gene promoter methylation of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from obese women compared to normal-weight subjects. We also intend to identify the possible association of SOCS1 and SOCS3 transcript levels with metabolic parameters in the context of obesity. Methods: This study was conducted on women with obesity (n = 24) [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m 2] and women with normal-weight (n = 22) (BMI < 25 kg/m 2). Transcript levels of SOCS1 and SOCS3 were evaluated by real-time PCR in SAT from all participants. After bisulfite treatment of DNA, methylation-specific PCR was used to assess the putative methylation of 10 CpG sites in the promoter of SOCS1 and 13 CpG sites in SOCS3 in SAT from women with obesity and normal weight. Results: It was found that unlike SOCS3, which disclosed an elevating expression pattern, the expression level of SOCS1 was lower in the women with obesity as compared with their non‐obese counterparts (P-value = 0.03 for SOCS1 transcript level and P-value = 0.011 for SOCS3 transcript level). As for the analysis of promoter methylation, it was found that SOCS1 and SOCS3 methylation were not significantly different between the individuals with obesity and normal weight (P-value = 0.45 and P-value = 0.89). Correlation analysis indicated that the transcript level of SOCS1 mRNA expression had an inverse correlation with BMI, hs-CRP levels, HOMA-IR, and insulin levels. However, the SOCS3 transcript level showed a positive correlation with BMI, waist-to-height ratio, waist circumference, hip circumference, hs-CRP, HOMA-IR, insulin, fasting blood glucose, and total cholesterol. Interestingly, HOMA-IR is the predictor of the transcript level of SOCS1 (β = − 0.448, P-value = 0.003) and SOCS3 (β = 0.465, P-value = 0.002) in SAT of all participants. Conclusions: Our findings point to alterations of SOCS1 and SOCS3 transcript levels, but not promoter methylation levels in subcutaneous adipose tissues from women with obesity. Moreover, mRNA expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in SAT was associated with known obesity indices, insulin resistance, and hs-CRP, suggesting the contribution of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic abnormalities. However, further studies are required to establish this concept. © 2023, The Author(s).