Associations of Adipocyte-Derived Versican and Macrophage-Derived Biglycan with Body Adipose Tissue and Hepatosteatosis in Obese Children

INTRODUCTION: In animal models of obesity, adipocyte-derived versican, and macrophage-derived biglycan play a crucial role in mediating adipose tissue inflammation. We aimed to investigate the levels of versican and biglycan in obese children and their potential association with body adipose tissue and hepatosteatosis.
METHODS: Serum levels of versican, biglycan, IL-6, and hsCRP were measured using the ELISA method. The fat deposition in the liver, spleen, and subcutaneous adipose tissue was calculated using the IDEAL-IQ sequences of MRI. Bioimpedance analysis was performed using the Tanita BC 418 MA device.
RESULTS: The study included 36 obese and 30 healthy children. Serum levels of versican, hsCRP, and IL-6 were higher in the obese group,while no significant difference was found in biglycan levels between the groups. There was a positive correlation between versican, biglycan,hsCRP, and IL-6. The MRI revealed higher segmental and global hepatic steatosis in obese children. There was no relationship between thehepatic fat content and versican, biglycan, IL-6, and hsCRP. Versican, biglycan, hsCRP, and IL-6 were not predictive of hepatosteatosis.Body fat percentage >32% provided a predictive sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 70.5% for hepatosteatosis (AUC: 0.819, p<0.001).Similarly, a BMI SDS >1.75 yielded a predictive sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 69.8% for predicting hepatosteatosis (AUC: 0.789,p<0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Obese children have higher levels of versican, hsCRP, and IL-6, and more fatty liver than their healthy peers. Body fat percentage and BMI SDS were the best predictors for hepatosteatosis in these children.