Moreno-Navarrete, José MaríaOrtega, FranciscoGómez-Serrano, MaríaGarcía-Santos, EvaRicart, WifredoTinahones, FranciscoMingrone, GeltrudePeral, BelénFernández-Real, José Manuel2013-08-262013-08-262013-08-12Moreno-Navarrete JM, Ortega F, Gómez-Serrano M, García-Santos E, Ricart W, Tinahones F, et al. The MRC1/CD68 Ratio Is Positively Associated with Adipose Tissue Lipogenesis and with Muscle Mitochondrial Gene Expression in Humans. PLoS ONE. 2013; 8(8):e70810http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1274Journal Article;BACKGROUND Alternative macrophages (M2) express the cluster differentiation (CD) 206 (MCR1) at high levels. Decreased M2 in adipose tissue is known to be associated with obesity and inflammation-related metabolic disturbances. Here we aimed to investigate MCR1 relative to CD68 (total macrophages) gene expression in association with adipogenic and mitochondrial genes, which were measured in human visceral [VWAT, n = 147] and subcutaneous adipose tissue [SWAT, n = 76] and in rectus abdominis muscle (n = 23). The effects of surgery-induced weight loss were also longitudinally evaluated (n = 6). RESULTS MCR1 and CD68 gene expression levels were similar in VWAT and SWAT. A higher proportion of CD206 relative to total CD68 was present in subjects with less body fat and lower fasting glucose concentrations. The ratio MCR1/CD68was positively associated with IRS1gene expression and with the expression of lipogenic genes such as ACACA, FASN and THRSP, even after adjusting for BMI. The ratio MCR1/CD68 in SWAT increased significantly after the surgery-induced weight loss (+44.7%; p = 0.005) in parallel to the expression of adipogenic genes. In addition, SWAT MCR1/CD68ratio was significantly associated with muscle mitochondrial gene expression (PPARGC1A, TFAM and MT-CO3). AT CD206 was confirmed by immunohistochemistry to be specific of macrophages, especially abundant in crown-like structures. CONCLUSION A decreased ratio MCR1/CD68 is linked to adipose tissue and muscle mitochondrial dysfunction at least at the level of expression of adipogenic and mitochondrial genes.enAdipocitosExpresión GénicaLipogénesisMitocondrias MuscularesTejido AdiposoObesidadMarcadores BiológicosHumanosMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Cells::Connective Tissue Cells::AdipocytesMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Genetic Phenomena::Genetic Processes::Gene ExpressionMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Chemical Phenomena::Biochemical Phenomena::Biochemical Processes::LipogenesisMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Cells::Cellular Structures::Intracellular Space::Cytoplasm::Cytoplasmic Structures::Organelles::Mitochondria::Mitochondria, MuscleMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Tissues::Connective Tissue::Adipose TissueMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Cells::Cellular Structures::Intracellular Space::Cytoplasm::Cytoplasmic Structures::Organelles::Mitochondria::Mitochondria, MuscleMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases::Nutrition Disorders::Overnutrition::ObesityMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Biological Factors::Biological Markersresearch article23951013open access10.1371/journal.pone.00708101932-6203PMC3741275