Receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) regulation of adiposity and adiponectin is associated with atherogenesis in apoE-deficient mouse

Abstract Objective Receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) has been shown to be involved in cardiovascular diseases. We examined the involvement of RAGE in atherosclerosis under non-diabetic status, and its relation to the effect on adiposity. Methods Apolipoprotein E (apoE) −/− RAGE +/+ or apoE −/− RAGE −/− mice were fed with an atherogenic diet or the standard chow diet. Adiposity was determined by weight of epididymal adipose tissue, adipocyte size and serum adiponectin. Aortic atherosclerosis was morphometrically determined. Results ApoE −/− RAGE −/− mice exhibited significantly less total aortic plaque area than apoE −/− RAGE +/+ mice. Body weight, epididymal fat weight, and epididymal adipocyte size were also significantly less in apoE −/− RAGE −/− mice than apoE −/− RAGE +/+ mice. Serum adiponectin, but not tumor necrosis factor-α, was significantly higher in apoE −/− RAGE −/− mice than apoE −/− RAGE +/+ mice. Simple regression analysis revealed that the total aortic plaque area was positively associated with epididymal fat weight, epididymal adipocyte size, and negatively with serum adiponectin levels. Multiple regression analyses revealed that RAGE genotype and serum adiponectin were mutually interrelated in determining aortic atherosclerosis. Finally, immunohistochemical and real-time RT-PCR analyses revealed that RAGE was indeed expressed in both adipocytes and endothelial cells in epididymal adipose tissue. Conclusion RAGE-mediated regulation of adiposity in non-diabetic status could be attributable to the progression of atherosclerosis.