Circulatory and adipose tissue leptin and adiponectin in relationship to resting energy expenditure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Increases in resting energy expenditure (REE) likely contribute to weight loss in various chronic diseases. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), relationships between the ventilatory impairment and increased REE, and between disturbances in adipokines and weight loss were previously described. Therefore, we investigated serum levels and adipose tissue expression of leptin and adiponectin, and their relationships to REE in patients with COPD. In 44 patients with stable COPD (38 male; age 62.3+/-7.2 years), REE was assessed using indirect calorimetry. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were analyzed using real-time PCR. From underweight [n=9; body mass index (BMI) /=30 kg.m(-2)), REE adjusted for body weight decreased (32.9+/-6.1 vs. 26.2+/-5.8 vs. 23.9+/-6.6 kcal.kg(-1).24 h(-1), p=0.006), serum levels and adipose tissue expression of leptin increased (p