European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CHANGED C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND SERUM AMYLOID-A LEVELS IN BLOOD SERUM, ADIPOSE TISSUE AND LIVER OF OBESITY INDUCED RATS

Dr.Iliyan Dimitrov.*, Dr.Vassil Kamenov MD, Dr.Mariyana Argirova, Dr.Anelia Bivolarska MD, Dr.Penka Angelova MD

ABSTRACT

C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) are acute-phase proteins. These proteins are synthesized predominantly by liver during the acute-phase of inflammation. Recent studies have demonstrated that CRP and SAA are synthesized and secreted by adipose tissue as well, and increase in the mass of adipose tissue during obesity leads to elevated CRP and SAA levels in blood serum. A model of animal obesity was created using high-fat diet. Sixty, eight-weeks-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups – 1) control group fed with standard rodent food and 2) experimental group fed with a high-fat diet. They were subjected on these regiments for fourteen weeks. Blood serum, liver and adipose tissue specimens were obtained from each animal at the end of the experimental period. The CRP and SAA concentrations were quantified by ELISA method. Higher blood CRP and SAA concentration and lower liver CRP and SAA levels were found for the group of obese animals compared to the control group. The concentration of SAA in adipose tissue was significantly higher in obese compared with the lean animals. No significant difference was found for the levels of CRP in adipose tissues obtained from the two experimental groups. No correlations exist between CRP and SAA levels in blood circulation, liver and adipose tissue. The changes in the concentration of CRP and SAA in blood serum, adipose tissue and liver, in experimental obesity might be an initial step in the development of low-grade, chronic inflammation.

Keywords: Obesity, low-grade inflammation, C-reactive protein, serum amyliod A, Wistar rats.