Leptin and Adiponectin mRNA Expression From the Adipose Tissue Surrounding the Adrenal Neoplasia

Context: Interplay between adipose tissue and adrenal glands has been recently suggested, without well-founded actions of locally adipose tissue surrounding the adrenal glands. Objective: We hypothesized that the local expression of leptin and adiponectin can be associated with pathological changes of the adrenal glands. Patients and Main Outcome Measures: We evaluated RT-PCR of leptin and adiponectin mRNA expression from the adipose tissue surrounding adrenal glands in 30 patients, collecting adipose tissue surrounding the adrenal neoplasms, peri-renal and subcutaneous depots. Results: Leptin mRNA levels from adrenal neoplasia and peri-renal fat were significantly higher in aldosterone-producing adenoma than in nonfunctioning adenomas (P < 0.001 and P < 0.02, respectively). In patients with Cushing's syndrome leptin mRNA levels were significantly higher in adrenal fat than in peri-renal (P < 0.05) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.001). Adiponectin mRNA expression from adrenal neoplasia was significantly lower than that from peri-renal and subcutaneous fat depots (P < 0.05). Leptin and adiponectin plasma levels significantly correlated with their mRNA expression from the fat depot surrounding the adrenal neoplasia. Conclusions: Our findings suggest an active role of the fat depot surrounding the adrenal neoplasia, with local secretion of leptin and adiponectin.