Insulinoma induces a hyperinsulinemia-mediated decrease of GLUT2 and GLP1 receptor in normal pancreatic ß-cells.

There have been several clinical reports of transient postoperative hyperglycemia in patients with insulinoma, but the effect of insulinoma on normal ß-cells has not been investigated. We examined the glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) expression in normal pancreatic ß-cells of five patients with insulinoma and five patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) as controls. The positive rate of GLUT2-or GLP1R-positive islets in the nontumor area was calculated by the ratio with the analyzed islets. For functional in vitro analyses, q-PCR and Western blotting were performed after insulin loading on MIN6 cells. The expression rates of both GLUT2 and GLP1R were significantly lower in nontumor area islets of insulinoma patients than in patients with NGT (GLUT2: 31.6 ± 15.3% vs 95.9 ± 6.7%, p < 0.01, GLP1R: 66.8 ± 15.0% vs 96.7 ± 5.0%, p < 0.01). Exposure of MIN6 cells to high concentrations of insulin resulted in a significant decrease in GLUT2 protein for 12 h and GLP1R protein for 24 h (GLUT2; 1.00 ± 0.079 vs 0.81 ± 0.04. p = 0.02, GLP1R; 1.00 ± 0.10 vs 0.50 ± 0.24, p = 0.03) but not in those mRNAs. Our findings show that insulinoma is associated with the downregulation of GLUT2 and GLP1R expression in nontumor area islets. These phenomena may be caused by high levels of insulin.

N-linked glycosylation of mouse adiponectin.

Adiponectin is an insulin-sensitizing adipokine with antidiabetic, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. Previously, some types of posttranslational modification on adiponectin have been reported. In this study, we demonstrate that mouse adiponectin protein migrated as 2 bands on SDS-PAGE gel. Slower migrating band of adiponectin was reduced by PNGase treatment. PNGase is known as N-glycosidase, and is able to change the mobility of N-glycosylated protein on SDS-PAGE gel. This result indicates the possibility that slower band shifted and overlapped with faster band by cleavage of N-glycan. To further clarify the N-glycosylation of adiponectin, we investigated the effect of N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Tunicamycin significantly reduced the ratio of slower band to faster band in culture medium from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This result also indicates the possibility that slower band of adiponectin is N-glycosylated. Lastly, to identify glycosylated asparagine residues, we established 3T3-L1 cell lines stably expressing wild type and mutant adiponectin in N-glycosylation sites. Wild-type adiponectin protein migrated as double bands, and mutant adiponectin in either asparagine at position 53 or threonine at 55 lacked slower band. These results suggest that a part of mouse adiponectin is modified by N-linked glycosylation at asparagine 53.

Enhanced expression of PAI-1 in visceral fat: possible contributor to vascular disease in obesity.

The presence of obesity increases the risk of thrombotic vascular diseases. The role of fat accumulation and its effect on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels was investigated in humans and animals. Plasma PAI-1 levels were closely correlated with visceral fat area but not with subcutaneous fat area in human subjects. PAI-1 mRNA was detected in both types of fat tissue in obese rats but increased only in visceral fat during the development of obesity. These data suggest that an enhanced expression of the PAI-1 gene in visceral fat may increase plasma levels and may have a role in the development of vascular disease in visceral obesity.

Measurement of adiponectin production from differentiated metabolic stem cells.

To treat metabolic syndrome, fat tissue dysfunction should be corrected rather than controlling conventional risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. For this purpose, accumulating evidence suggests increasing plasma adiponectin levels can be a key treatment strategy, especially in setting of food or drug selection. Here we report that adipocyte precursors obtained from several sites of fat tissue, which we call Metabolic Stem Cells (MSC), could be used as a novel screening system to identify adiponectin enhancing drugs or food for individual patients. MSC were prepared from fat tissues collected from 29 patients. They were differentiated in cultures into mature adipocytes. The time course of adiponectin production was independent of the number of mature adipocytes and gradually decreased at 48 h after differentiation. Pioglitazone, a full PPARgamma agonist, stabilized adiponectin production at days 8-16 after differentiation, whereas telmisartan, a partial PPARgamma agonist, showed variable response. Dividing the adiponectin secretion of day 12 by that of day 10 provided an estimate of adiponectin-producing activity irrespective of the number of MSC-derived adipocytes in culture. Using this score of adiponectin-production activity, we successfully assessed 16 agents in a 96-well plate. The effect of each agent on adiponectin production showed a similar pattern, independent of the site of isolated adipose tissue. Our results show that MSC can be used as a tool for selecting drugs that enhance adiponectin-production activity.

Insulin-mediated regulation of decidual protein induced by progesterone (DEPP) in adipose tissue and liver.

We analyzed the profile of the genes expressed in human adipose tissue and identified the fat-derived molecules, adiponectin and aquaporin 7, which modulate glucose and lipid metabolism. The same Bodymap analysis revealed abundant expression of the decidual protein induced by progesterone (DEPP) in the white adipose tissue. Northern blot analysis confirmed that human DEPP mRNA was highly expressed in white adipose tissue. Mouse DEPP mRNA was detected in heart, lung, skeletal muscle, and white adipose tissue under feeding state. In contrast, under fasting state, mouse DEPP mRNA was enhanced in lung, skeletal muscle, and white adipose tissue and it appeared also in the liver and kidney, suggesting up regulation of DEPP by fasting. Because fasting-induced DEPP expression was observed in insulin-sensitive organs, we investigated the regulation of DEPP in white adipose tissue and liver. During adipogenesis of mouse 3T3-L1 cells, DEPP mRNA increased in a differentiation-dependent manner similar to adiponectin and aquaporin 7. Treatment of cultured 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes, rat H4IIE, and human HepG2 hepatoma cells with insulin significantly decreased DEPP mRNA levels in dose- and time-dependent manners. IN VIVO experiments showed significant decrease of hepatic and adipose DEPP mRNA levels in refed mice, compared to fasted animals, and also showed significant increase in DEPP mRNA in streptozotocin-induced insulin-deficient diabetic mice. These results indicate that DEPP is a novel insulin-regulatory molecule expressed abundantly in insulin-sensitive tissues including white adipose tissue and liver.

In tube immunocytochemistry for fluorescence-activated cell sorting that prevents RNA degradation in sorted cells.

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is a powerful tool for analyzing stem cells. When using fixed cells, however, it is sometimes difficult to analyze RNA extracted from sorted cells due to RNA degradation. We established a protocol for immunocytochemistry before FACS to prevent RNA degradation. Cells were fixed with a methanol-based fixative (UM-Fix), then subjected to immunocytochemistry. The addition of RNase inhibitor and dithiothreitol (DTT) to some buffers used for immunocytochemistry increased RNA integrity after cell recovery. We found increased copy numbers of mRNA in recovered cells using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. When RNase inhibitor and DTT were added, amplification of mRNA using T7 promoter was possible with RNA extracted from recovered cells after FACS. Our protocol ensures high quality RNA in cells recovered by FACS; therefore, gene expression analysis with a smaller number of cells is possible using pre-amplification of mRNAs. Our protocol for immunocytochemistry also might be applicable to RNA recovery after immunostaining.

Adiponectin plays a protective role in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice fed a high-fat diet.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for acute pancreatitis (AP), but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Adiponectin, an adipose tissue-derived secretory factor, has anti-inflammatory properties in addition to various biological functions, and its plasma concentrations are reduced in obese subjects. However, the role of adiponectin in AP has not been investigated. AIM: To determine the effects of adiponectin on AP. METHODS: We investigated the effects of adiponectin on experimental AP by using adiponectin-knockout (APN-KO) mice and adenovirus-mediated adiponectin over-expression. AP was induced by 10 hourly intraperitoneal injections of low-dose caerulein (10 microg/kg) after 2 week feeding of normal chow or a high-fat diet (HFD) in wild-type (WT) and APN-KO mice. We evaluated the severity of AP biochemically and morphologically. RESULTS: Low-dose caerulein treatment did not induce pancreatic damage in either WT or APN-KO mice under normal chow feeding. APN-KO mice, but not WT mice, fed a HFD and then treated with caerulein developed pancreatic damage and inflammation, accompanied by increased macrophage/neutrophil infiltration and upregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumour necrosis factor alpha in the pancreas. Adenovirus-mediated over-expression of adiponectin attenuated the severity of HFD/caerulein-induced AP in APN-KO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin plays a protective role in caerulein-induced AP in HFD-fed mice.

Differential expression of exons 1a and 1c in mRNAs for sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 in human and mouse organs and cultured cells.

The 5' end of the mRNA-encoding sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) exists in two forms, designated 1a and 1c. The divergence results from the use of two transcription start sites that produce two separate 5' exons, each of which is spliced to a common exon 2. Here we show that the ratio of SREBP-1c to 1a transcripts varies markedly among organs of the adult mouse. At one extreme is the liver, in which the 1c transcript predominates by a 9:1 ratio. High 1c:1a ratios are also found in mouse adrenal gland and adipose tissue and in human liver and adrenal gland. At the other extreme is the spleen, which shows a reversed 1c:1a ratio (1:10). In five different lines of cultured cells, including the HepG2 line derived from human hepatocytes, the 1a transcript predominated (1c:1a ratio < 1:2). In mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, the 1a transcript was present, but the 1c transcript was not detectable. When these cells were differentiated into adipocytes by hormone treatment in culture, the amount of 1a transcript rose markedly (8.2-fold), and the 1c transcript remained virtually undetectable. We conclude that the SREBP-1a and 1c transcripts are controlled independently by regulatory regions that respond differentially to organ-specific and metabolic factors.

Overproduction of cholesterol and fatty acids causes massive liver enlargement in transgenic mice expressing truncated SREBP-1a.

The NH2-terminal domain of sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1a (SREBP-1a) activates transcription of genes encoding enzymes of cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis in cultured cells. This domain is synthesized as part of a membrane-bound precursor that is attached to the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum. In sterol-depleted cells a two-step proteolytic process releases this NH2-terminal domain, which enters the nucleus and activates transcription. Proteolysis is suppressed by sterols, thereby suppressing transcription. In the current experiments we produce transgenic mice that overexpress a truncated version of human SREBP-1a that includes the NH2-terminal domain but lacks the membrane attachment site. This protein enters the nucleus without a requirement for proteolysis, and therefore it cannot be down-regulated. Expression was driven by the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) promoter, which gives high level expression in liver. When placed on a low carbohydrate/high protein diet to induce the PEPCK promoter, the transgenic mice developed progressive and massive enlargement of the liver, owing to the engorgement of hepatocytes with cholesterol and triglycerides. The mRNAs encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG CoA) synthase, HMG CoA reductase, squalene synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 were all elevated markedly, as was the LDL receptor mRNA. The rates of cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis in liver were elevated 5- and 25-fold, respectively. Remarkably, plasma lipid levels were not elevated. The amount of white adipose tissue decreased progressively as the liver enlarged. These studies indicate that the NH2-terminal domain of SREBP-1a can produce major effects on lipid synthesis and storage in the liver.

Elevated levels of SREBP-2 and cholesterol synthesis in livers of mice homozygous for a targeted disruption of the SREBP-1 gene.

The synthesis of cholesterol and its uptake from plasma LDL are regulated by two membrane-bound transcription factors, designated sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 and -2 (SREBP-1 and SREBP-2). Here, we used the technique of homologous recombination to generate mice with disruptions in the gene encoding the two isoforms of SREBP-1, termed SREBP-1a and SREBP-1c. Heterozygous gene-disrupted mice were phenotypically normal, but 50- 85% of the homozygous (-/-) mice died in utero at embryonic day 11. The surviving -/- mice appeared normal at birth and throughout life. Their livers expressed no functional SREBP-1. There was a 1.5-fold upregulation of SREBP-2 at the level of mRNA and a two- to threefold increase in the amount of mature SREBP-2 in liver nuclei. Previous studies showed that SREBP-2 is much more potent than SREBP-1c, the predominant hepatic isoform of SREBP-1, in activating transcription of genes encoding enzymes of cholesterol synthesis. Consistent with this observation, the SREBP-1 -/- animals manifested elevated levels of mRNAs for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase and reductase, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, and squalene synthase. Cholesterol synthesis, as measured by the incorporation of [3H]water, was elevated threefold in livers of the -/- mice, and hepatic cholesterol content was increased by 50%. Fatty acid synthesis was decreased in livers of the -/- mice. The amount of white adipose tissue was not significantly decreased, and the levels of mRNAs for lipogenic enzymes, adipocyte lipid binding protein, lipoprotein lipase, and leptin were normal in the -/- mice. We conclude from these studies that SREBP-2 can replace SREBP-1 in regulating cholesterol synthesis in livers of mice and that the higher potency of SREBP-2 relative to SREBP-1c leads to excessive hepatic cholesterol synthesis in these animals.

Blunted feedback suppression of SREBP processing by dietary cholesterol in transgenic mice expressing sterol-resistant SCAP(D443N).

Feedback regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis is mediated by membrane-bound transcription factors designated sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP)-1 and -2. In sterol-deprived cultured cells, SREBPs are released from membranes by a proteolytic process that is stimulated by SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), a membrane protein containing a sterol-sensing domain. Sterols suppress SREBP cleavage by blocking the action of SCAP, thereby decreasing cholesterol synthesis. A point mutation in SCAP(D443N) causes resistance to sterol suppression. In this article, we produced transgenic mice that express mutant SCAP(D443N) in liver. In these livers the nuclear content of SREBP-1 and -2 was increased, mRNAs encoding proteins involved in uptake and synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids were elevated, and the livers were engorged with cholesteryl esters and triglycerides enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids. When the mice were challenged with a high cholesterol diet, cleavage of SREBP-1 and -2 was reduced in wild-type livers and less so in transgenic livers. We conclude that SCAP(D443N) stimulates proteolytic processing of native SREBPs in liver and decreases the normal sterol-mediated feedback regulation of SREBP cleavage, suggesting a central role for SCAP as a sterol sensor in liver.

Activation of cholesterol synthesis in preference to fatty acid synthesis in liver and adipose tissue of transgenic mice overproducing sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2.

We produced transgenic mice that express a dominant-positive truncated form of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) in liver and adipose tissue. The encoded protein lacks the membrane-binding and COOH-terminal regulatory domains, and it is therefore not susceptible to negative regulation by cholesterol. Livers from the transgenic mice showed increases in mRNAs encoding multiple enzymes of cholesterol biosynthesis, the LDL receptor, and fatty acid biosynthesis. The elevations in mRNA for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) synthase and HMG CoA reductase were especially marked (13-fold and 75-fold, respectively). As a result, the transgenic livers showed a 28-fold increase in the rate of cholesterol synthesis and a lesser fourfold increase in fatty acid synthesis, as measured by intraperitoneal injection of [3H]water. These results contrast with previously reported effects of dominant-positive SREBP-1a, which activated fatty acid synthesis more than cholesterol synthesis. In adipose tissue of the SREBP-2 transgenics, the mRNAs for cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes were elevated, but the mRNAs for fatty acid biosynthetic enzymes were not. We conclude that SREBP-2 is a relatively selective activator of cholesterol synthesis, as opposed to fatty acid synthesis, in liver and adipose tissue of mice.

Isoform 1c of sterol regulatory element binding protein is less active than isoform 1a in livers of transgenic mice and in cultured cells.

We have produced transgenic mice whose livers express a dominant positive NH2-terminal fragment of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). Unlike full-length SREBP-1c, the NH2-terminal fragment enters the nucleus without a requirement for proteolytic release from cell membranes, and hence it is immune to downregulation by sterols. We compared SREBP-1c transgenic mice with a line of transgenic mice that produces an equal amount of the NH2-terminal fragment of SREBP-1a. SREBP-1a and -1c are alternate transcripts from a single gene that differ in the first exon, which encodes part of an acidic activation domain. The 1a protein contains a long activation domain with 12 negatively charged amino acids, whereas the 1c protein contains a short activation domain with only 6 such amino acids. As previously reported, livers of the SREBP-1a transgenic mice were massively enlarged, owing to accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol. SREBP-1c transgenic livers were only slightly enlarged with only a moderate increase in triglycerides, but not cholesterol. The mRNAs for the LDL receptor and several cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes were elevated in SREBP-la transgenic mice, but not in 1c transgenic mice. The mRNAs for fatty acid synthase and acetyl CoA carboxylase were elevated 9- and 16-fold in la animals, but only 2- and 4-fold in 1c animals. Experiments with transfected cells confirmed that SREBP-1c is a much weaker activator of transcription than SREBP-1a when both are expressed at levels approximating those found in nontransfected cells. SREBP-1c became a strong activator only when expressed at supraphysiologic levels. We conclude that SREBP-1a is the most active form of SREBP-1 and that SREBP-1c may be produced when cells require a lower rate of transcription of genes regulating cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism.

Stimulation of the activity and mRNA level of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase by triiodothyronine in HepG2 cells.

We have studied the effects of triiodothyronine (T3) on the production of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase (HTGL) in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2, by measuring its activity and mRNA levels. The HTGL activity released into the medium by heparin, increased after the addition of T3 in a both time- (27% increase after 24 and 75% increase after 48 h) and dose-dependent manner (maximum activity with over 0.2 micrograms/ml of T3 in the medium). Messenger RNA levels of HTGL in cells incubated with T3 for 24 and 48 h were increased by 33% and 98% compared to those of the control. These results suggest that the production of HTGL may be regulated by thyroid hormone at the level of gene expression.

Marked enhancement of acyl-CoA synthetase activity and mRNA, paralleled to lipoprotein lipase mRNA, in adipose tissues of Zucker obese rats (fa/fa).

To clarify the role of acyl-CoA synthetase in development of obesity, the mRNA levels and activities were studied in Zucker fatty rats (fa/fa). In Zucker fatty rats compared with their lean littermates, marked enhancement of ACS were observed in adipose tissues. Obese/lean rats ratio of ACS activity and mRNA in abdominal subcutaneous fat (3.3- and 3.9-fold, respectively) were greater than in mesenteric fat (2.0- and 2.2-fold). The enhancement of ACS activity and mRNA in the liver of fatty rats (1.2- and 1.8-fold) were less than those in the adipose tissues. There were no enhancement of ACS activities and mRNA levels in heart tissue of the obese rats. LPL mRNA levels were also enhanced in adipose tissue of fatty rats and obese/lean ratio of LPL mRNA was also higher in abdominal subcutaneous fat than mesenteric fat (6.2- vs 3.1-fold). The larger obese/lean rats ratio of LPL and ACS parameters in abdominal subcutaneous fat than mesenteric fat may be related to the observation that the increase of subcutaneous fat weight was larger than that of mesenteric fat weight in fatty rats (21.1- vs 4.9-fold). Integrated enhancement of LPL and ACS gene expression in adipose tissue may play an important role in the development of obesity.

PPARgamma ligands increase expression and plasma concentrations of adiponectin, an adipose-derived protein.

Insulin resistance and its dreaded consequence, type 2 diabetes, are major causes of atherosclerosis. Adiponectin is an adipose-specific plasma protein that possesses anti-atherogenic properties, such as the suppression of adhesion molecule expression in vascular endothelial cells and cytokine production from macrophages. Plasma adiponectin concentrations are decreased in obese and type 2 diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. A regimen that normalizes or increases the plasma adiponectin might prevent atherosclerosis in patients with insulin resistance. In this study, we demonstrate the inducing effects of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which are synthetic PPARgamma ligands, on the expression and secretion of adiponectin in humans and rodents in vivo and in vitro. The administration of TZDs significantly increased the plasma adiponectin concentrations in insulin resistant humans and rodents without affecting their body weight. Adiponectin mRNA expression was normalized or increased by TZDs in the adipose tissues of obese mice. In cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, TZD derivatives enhanced the mRNA expression and secretion of adiponectin in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, these effects were mediated through the activation of the promoter by the TZDs. On the other hand, TNF-alpha, which is produced more in an insulin-resistant condition, dose-dependently reduced the expression of adiponectin in adipocytes by suppressing its promoter activity. TZDs restored this inhibitory effect by TNF-alpha. TZDs might prevent atherosclerotic vascular disease in insulin-resistant patients by inducing the production of adiponectin through direct effect on its promoter and antagonizing the effect of TNF-alpha on the adiponectin promoter.

Insulin resistance and body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution can be assessed by computed tomography (CT). The ratio of umbilicus was used to classify obese subjects as having visceral fat obesity (VFO) or subcutaneous fat obesity (SFO). Serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and plasma glucose area in an oral glucose tolerance test were higher in patients with VFO than in those with SFO. Significant positive correlations were demonstrated between V/S ratio and plasma glucose area, serum triglyceride level, and total cholesterol level as well as systolic or diastolic blood pressure. VFO was more frequently associated with coronary artery disease. Moreover, VFO was more often accompanied by multiple risk factors than was SFO. Steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) level was significantly higher in patients with VFO than with SFO, suggesting that insulin resistance may be more remarkable in VFO than in SFO. Furthermore, visceral fat accumulation was also associated with these complications even in nonobese subjects. Visceral fat area (VFA) was significantly correlated with fasting plasma glucose, serum triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels. Animal models such as Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) lesions and Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima-Fatty (OLETF) rats were accompanied by visceral fat accumulation and an early stage of aortic atherosclerosis. Aging, sex hormone, genetic, and dietary factors and physical inactivity may induce visceral fat accumulation. Visceral fat is characterized by its high lipogenic activity as well as its accelerated lipolytic activity. High levels of portal free fatty acids (FFAs) may eventually result in an enhancement of hepatic triglyceride synthesis, causing hyperlipidemia. High portal FFA levels would also induce insulin resistance, thereby causing glucose intolerance, hypertension, and finally atherosclerosis. We propose a term, "visceral fat syndrome," as a highly atherogenic state, which includes visceral fat accumulation, glucose intolerance (insulin resistance), hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.

Analysis of an expression profile of genes in the human adipose tissue.

Increasing evidence suggests that in addition to storing excess energy as fat, adipose tissue acts as an endocrine organ secreting various factors into the blood stream. Every time a new factor is found in adipose tissue, however, its implication is discussed independently, and a systematic analyses based upon a global view of gene expression of this tissue has not been performed. To describe the function of this tissue in terms of gene expression, and to find new factors, we performed random complementary DNA (cDNA) sequencing using a 3'-directed cDNA library that faithfully represents the composition of the messenger RNA (mRNA). Various well-known but unexpected genes, including those for gelsolin, plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX-3) and carboxypeptidase E (CPE) were shown to be very active. By comparing the expression profile of active genes in the adipose with those of other tissues and with data in dbEST, we identified seven new genes that are specifically expressed in adipose tissue. Among these, one encoded a protein with collagen-like repeats and a putative secretion signal. These data can be used as new tools for analyses of the physiology of this tissue, as well as the etiology and complications of obesity.