Systemic and White Adipose Tissue Inflammatory Profile in Lean Versus Obese Individuals

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will compare the systemic and white adipose tissue inflammatory profile of individuals who are classified as lean and obese. Blood and white adipose tissue samples will be collected in the fasted state to assess inflammatory status. There is evidence to suggest that markers of inflammation in the blood and white adipose tissue increase with increasing levels of obesity. However, the white adipose tissue total protein content and phosphorylation of proteins involved in inflammatory pathways has not previously been compared between lean and obese individuals. The investigators hypothesise that obese individuals will have increased levels of inflammation in the blood and white adipose tissue, compared to their lean counterparts.

Official Title
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Systemic and White Adipose Tissue Inflammatory Profile in Lean Versus Obese Individuals

Conditions
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Inflammation, Obesity, Inflammatory Response, Cardiovascular Risk Factor

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: No intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18-40 years Waist circumference/BMI criteria: Lean participants: waist circumference ≤94 cm (men) and 80 cm (women) and BMI ≥ 21.0 kg/m2 or Obese participants: waist circumference ≥102 cm (men) and 88 cm (women) and BMI ≥ 30.0kg/m2 Recreationally active (> 3 x 30 min moderate exercise per week) Blood pressure systolic blood pressure <160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure <100 mmHg Exclusion Criteria: Smoker (including vaping) Cardiometabolic or inflammatory disease (e.g. heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes) Taking medication or nutritional supplements (e.g. fish oil/prebiotics) known to interfere with study outcomes (including inflammation, immune function or lipid/carbohydrate metabolism) or prescribed antibiotics within the last 3 months Unstable weight history (≥ 3kg loss or gain in previous 3 months) An allergy to lidocaine (determined by the Schools standard health questionnaire) Parallel participation in another intervention study Women who are pregnant or lactating Any other unusual medical history or diet and lifestyle habits or practices that would preclude volunteers from participating in a metabolic study Alcohol consumption >28 units per week for a man or >21 units per week for a woman

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Lean Individuals<br>waist circumference ≤94 cm (men) and 80 cm (women) and BMI ≥ 21.0 kg/m2 | Other: No intervention<br>* There is no intervention in this study<br>|
| Obese Individuals<br>waist circumference ≥102cm (men) and 88 cm (women) and BMI ≥ 30.0kg/m2 | Other: No intervention<br>* There is no intervention in this study<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Protein expression (content and phosphorylation) of key markers of metabolic inflammation in white adipose tissue (for example assessment of Nuclear factor kappa B (NFKB) total protein and phosphorylation by western blot analysis) | This will be assessed following the collection of fasted white adipose tissue samples | Cross-sectional (all outcome measures will be collected within a 2 week period) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Systemic Markers of Inflammation (for example C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 concentrations, determined by spectrophotometric assay/ ELISA) | This will be assessed following the collection of fasted white adipose tissue | Cross-sectional (all outcome measures will be collected within a 2 week period) | 
| Gene expression of key markers of metabolic inflammation in white adipose tissue | This will be assessed following the collection of fasted white adipose tissue | Cross-sectional (all outcome measures will be collected within a 2 week period) | 
| Characterisation of immune cell populations (monocyte subsets) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (measured using flow cytometry analysis) | This will be assessed following the collection of fasted blood samples | Cross-sectional (all outcome measures will be collected within a 2 week period) | 
| Habitual Dietary Intake | This will be assessed following the collection of a 4 day weighed food diary | Cross-sectional (all outcome measures will be collected within a 2 week period) | 
| Physical Activity | Assessed using Actigraph accelerometers over a 4 day period | Cross-sectional (all outcome measures will be collected within a 2 week period) | 
| Fasting Serum Markers of Insulin Resistance (for example insulin and glucose concentrations, determined using an ELISA/ spectrophotometric assay) | This will be assessed following the collection of fasted blood samples | Cross-sectional (all outcome measures will be collected within a 2 week period) | 
| Fasting Serum Lipid Profile (for example total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations, measured using a spectrophotometric assay) | This will be assessed following the collection of fasted blood samples | Cross-sectional (all outcome measures will be collected within a 2 week period) |