Effect of Adipose Biopsy Technique on Inflammatory Markers in Adipose Tissue

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare adipose tissue (AT) biomarkers obtained from the Bergström and Mercedes biopsy techniques in healthy, recreationally active adults. Hypotheses: There would be no difference in expression of inflammatory and adipokine genes of interest between techniques. There would be no difference in the concentration of inflammatory cytokine levels between techniques. Methods: Basal abdominal subcutaneous AT was obtained from 12 (8M, 4F; 28±4 y; 86±8 kg; BMI 26.8±2.9 kg/m2; body fat 29±8%; VO2max 3.4±0.7 L/min) healthy, recreationally active adults (i.e., regular aerobic and/or resistance exercise 3-5 days/wk) on contralateral sides of the umbilicus via Bergström and Mercedes biopsy techniques. Inflammatory and adipokine gene expression levels (IL1β, IL6, IL8, IL10, TNFα, ADIPOQ, LEPD) were measured in AT (n=8) via qPCR. Inflammatory cytokine concentrations (GM-CSF, IFNγ, IL1β, IL2, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL12p70, IL17A, IL23, TNFα, IL4, IL10, IL13) were measured in AT (n=11) via high sensitivity discovery assay. Results: There were no differences in inflammatory nor adipokine gene expression between AT biopsy techniques (P>0.05). Of the measurable cytokines (GM-CSF, IFNγ, IL8, IL17A, IL13), there were no differences between Bergström and Mercedes AT (P>0.05). Average tissue yield for the Mercedes biopsy was greater than the Bergström biopsy (1007±625 mg vs. 291±83 mg, respectively; p<0.05). Conclusions: The analyses performed in this study suggest AT collected from Bergström and Mercedes techniques provide high-quality RNA (RNA integrity numbers >7.0) and protein with comparable basal transcriptional and translational profiles. Both techniques may be utilized in the collection of AT; however, research questions may impact the technique chosen as the Mercedes biopsy technique obtains larger tissue yields whereas the Bergström technique may allow for an increased number of biopsies due to the smaller abdominal area impacted. This research was supported by the Human Bioenergetics program at Ball State University. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.