The Effect of Chronic Glucocorticoid Exposure on Brown Adipose Tissue in Cushing’s Disease

Abstract

Aim:In this study, we aimed to evaluate the levels of brown adipose tissue markers uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), irisin, bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) and PR-Domain Zinc Finger Protein-16 (PRDM-16) in Cushing’s disease (CH) with hypercortisolism.Methods:The study was conducted prospectively with 48 CH patients and 40 healthy volunteers between 2018 and 2019. Two cc of peripheral blood taken from the participants was centrifuged and stored at -80 oC degrees. Cushing’s syndrome was excluded by performing 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test in the control group. Blood samples were analyzed by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay method.Results:The patient group included 11 males (22.9%), 37 female (77.1%); 9 male (22.5%) and 31 females (77.5%) in the control group. Body mass index was 31.29±5.76 kg/m2 in the patient group and 33.42±3.11 kg/m2 in the control group. PRDM-16, Irisin, BMP-7, UCP-1 levels were not significantly different between the two groups. While there was a positive correlation between serum cortisol and irisin, a negative correlation was observed between urinary free cortisol and UCP-1.Conclusion:These data suggest that long-term exposure to high doses of glucocorticoids in CH patients causes loss of adipose tissue functionality and development of resistance in vivo.

Keywords

• cushing’s disease
• glucocorticoid
• brown fat tissue
• ucp-1
• irisin
• bmp-7
• prdm-16