Objective: To determine whether changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression influence plasma PAI-1 level during weight loss in obese humans.
Design: Study of the variations of PAI-1 levels both in plasma and in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue in 15 volunteer non-diabetic obese subjects, body mass index (BMI) 40.4.+/-1.9 kg/m2, aged 48+/-3 y, before and after a 3 week very low calorie diet (VLCD) programme (3.9+/-0.1 MJ/day).
Measurements: Plasma and adipose tissue PAI-1 protein levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and PAI-1 mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative RT-competitive PCR.
Results: VLCD induced weight loss (5.8+/-0.8 kg) and decreased plasma PAI-1 concentration (-26% (P<0. 01)). Surprisingly, PAI-1 mRNA and protein abundance in subcutaneous adipose tissue increased by 87% (P<0.05) and by 44% (P<0.01), respectively.
Conclusion: These data indicate thus that changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue PAI-1 expression are not involved in the decrease of plasma PAI-1 levels during VLCD in obese subjects. International Journal of Obesity (2000)24, 70-74