J Obes Metab Syndr.  2024 Dec;33(4):360-366. 10.7570/jomes24002.

Relationships of Thickness of Perirenal Fat with Urinary Levels of MCP-1 and NGAL in Patients with Hypertension

• Bragina A
• Rodionova Y
• Osadchiy K
• Bayutina D
• Vasilchenko MK
• Fomin A
• Podzolkov V

• KMID: 2563791
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7570/jomes24002

Abstract

Background
We conducted a study to determine the relationships between perirenal fat (PRF) thickness and urinary levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in patients with hypertension (HTN).
Methods
In 338 HTN patients (aged 63.5±12.3 years on average), MCP-1 and NGAL levels were studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To measure PRF thickness, all patients underwent CT scans.
Results
We considered PRF thickness ≥1.91 cm as the diagnostic threshold for perirenal obesity. Patients with excessive PRF thickness exhibited significantly lower levels of MCP-1 and NGAL compared with those with PRF thickness ≥1.91 cm: 0.98 pg/mL (interquartile range [IQR], 0.21 to 2.05) vs. 2.35 pg/mL (IQR, 0.37 to 5.22) for MCP-1 and 50.0 pg/mL (IQR, 48.9 to 67.8) vs. 98.3 pg/mL (IQR, 68.4 to 187.1) for NGAL. We found a relationship of PRF thickness with both MCP-1 (r= 0.46, P<0.05) and NGAL (r= 0.53, P<0.05), the levels of which were significantly different in patients with first- and third-stage chronic kidney disease: 0.33 pg/mL (IQR, 0.21 to 1.35) vs. 4.47 pg/mL (IQR, 0.23 to 10.81); 50.0 pg/mL (IQR, 49.4 to 85.5) vs. 126.45 pg/mL (IQR, 57.5 to 205.15), respectively (P=0.04). Patients with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) had significantly lower MCP-1 levels than those with metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO): 0.65 pg/mL (IQR, 0.21 to 2.15) vs. 3.28 pg/mL (IQR, 2.05 to 5.22) (P=0.014). MHO patients showed significantly lower NGAL levels than MUO patients: 50.0 pg/mL (IQR, 49.4 to 62.2) vs. 98.3 pg/mL (IQR, 50.0 to 174.8) (P=0.04). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed significant relationships of MCP-1 with PRF thickness (β±standard error, 0.41±0.15; P<0.001) and smoking (0.26±0.13; P= 0.01) and of NGAL with age (0.45±0.16; P<0.01) and PRF thickness (0.49±0.15; P<0.001).
Conclusion
We identified higher concentrations of renal fibrosis markers in patients with perirenal and MUO as well as a link between PRF thickness and MCP-1 and NGAL levels in urine.

Keyword

Kidney; Perirenal fat; Fibrosis; Perirenal fat thickness; Ectopic obesity; Metabolically benign obesity; Hypertension