Human epicardial fat is the true visceral fat depot of the heart, and its regional distribution and physiology is of growing scientific and clinical interest. This study aims to characterize the expression profile and function of the epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue compartments of the heart (EAT and PAT). EAT and PAT adipose biopsies will be obtained from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or valve replacement surgery.
The epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) stretches from the myocardium to the visceral layer of the pericardium. Adipose located on the outside of the visceral pericardium to the external site of the pericardium is called the pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), and is of a separate origin than EAT. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the global expression profile of the EAT and PAT compartments, in addition to characterizing the function, structure, metabolic and inflammatory profile. Furthermore, this study will determine whether CABG and valve replacement patients display different EAT and PAT characteristics
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
28
Centre for Physical Activity Research
Copenhagen, Denmark
Characterization of cardiac adipose tissue
Cardiac adipose tissue biopsies will be compared and characterized as brown, beige or white adipose according to gene expression of adipocyte markers
Time frame: Time of collection during surgery is approximately 3 hours
Characterization of cardiac adipose tissue gene expression in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and valve replacement surgery patients
Gene expression will be measured and compared within cardiac adipose tissue biopsies from patients undergoing CABG or valve replacement surgery.
Time frame: Time of collection during surgery is approximately 3 hours
Characterization of cardiac adipose tissue protein expression in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and valve replacement surgery patients
Protein expression will be measured and compared within cardiac adipose tissue biopsies from patients undergoing CABG or valve replacement surgery.
Time frame: Time of collection during surgery is approximately 3 hours
Cardiac adipose tissue volume
Cardiac fat volume will be measured by cardiac MRI scan prior to undergoing CABG or valve replacement surgery to assess whether cardiac fat volume correlates with the cardiac adipose profile.
Time frame: Prior to surgery
Functional characterization of cardiac adipose biopsy cell culture
Primary cell culture will be derived from the cardiac adipose biopsies to perform functional assays in vitro. Gene expression will be measured.
Time frame: Time of collection during surgery is approximately 3 hours
Functional characterization of cardiac adipose biopsy cell culture
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Primary cell culture will be derived from the cardiac adipose biopsies to perform functional assays in vitro. Protein expression will be measured.
Time frame: Time of collection during surgery is approximately 3 hours
Cardiac muscle biopsies
Gene expression in cardiac muscle biopsies and progenitor cells will be compared to that of the adipose biopsies.
Time frame: Time of collection during surgery is approximately 3 hours