Glucocorticoid-regulated adipose tissue secretion of PAI-1, but not IL-6, TNFalpha or leptin in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticoids are well-known regulators of adipose tissue metabolism and endocrine function. The aim of this study was to examine glucocorticoid effect on plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), leptin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) adipose tissue secretion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve healthy postmenopausal women with mean BMI of 28.9 kg/m(2) (+/- 0.8 SEM) received 25 mg prednisolone daily for 7 days. Before and after glucocorticoid treatment adipose tissue secretion of PAI-1, leptin, IL-6 and TNFalpha were measured, and adipocyte PAI-1 mRNA as well as anthropometrical and bio-chemical data were obtained. RESULTS: Anthropometric measurements remained unaffected. Analyses of venous blood-samples showed a borderline increase of insulin levels (p = 0.062). PAI-1 secretion from adipose tissue increased (1.9 +/- 0.2 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.5 ng/g triglycerides, p = 0.012), but PAI-1 mRNA levels did not (0.19 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.21 +/- 0.04 arbitrary units after normalised to beta-actin, p = 0.51). There were no apparent differences in IL-6, TNFalpha or leptin secretion after glucocorticoid exposure. CONCLUSION: This study shows an increased secretion of PAI-1, but not IL-6, TNFalpha or leptin, from abdominal adipose tissue after in vivo glucocorticoid treatment, which may be a finding of pathophysiological importance given the well-known effect of glucocorticoid excess on metabolic aberrations and cardiovascular morbidity.