ADIPOQ rs266729 G/C gene polymorphism and plasmatic adipocytokines connect metabolic syndrome to colorectal cancer.

Background: ADIPOQ gene, which encode for Adiponectin (APN), is sited on chromosome 3q27 and linked to a susceptibility locus for metabolic syndrome (MetS). The ADIPOQ rs266729 G/C gene polymorphism is significantly associated with low APN levels and linked to susceptibility to develop cancer. In addition, decreased APN serum levels are linked with tumor development and progression and inversely associated with markers of inflammation. Here, we investigate the influence of APN rs266729 G/C polymorphism on adipocytokine circulating levels and their association with MetS in colorectal cancer patients (CRC).
Methods: Blood samples from 105 CRC patients (50 women and 55 men) with and without MetS were genotyped for APN rs266729 G/C polymorphism by TETRA ARMS PCR. ELISA assay was used to measure plasma levels of APN and inflammatory TNF-α cytokine. Biochemical and anthropometric parameters of MetS were also analyzed.
Results: We found that CRC patients (N=75) with genotype rs266729G/C or carriers of G allele were associated with a significantly increased risk of MetS development (OR =2.9) compared to those with CC genotype (N=30). Also, CG/GG genotypes were associated with significantly lower plasma APN levels and higher TNF-α levels in comparison to CC genotype (P=0.034) and APN levels were decreased in relation to BMI increases (P=0.001). Conclusions: Our findings show that APN rs266729 G/C polymorphism is associated with lower APN levels in CRC patients, indicating that decreased circulating levels of APN may be a determinant risk factor for CRC in MetS patients.

Introduction

Many epidemiological studies suggest an important, but still controversial, role of obesity and adipose tissue (AT) mass in colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and an association with tumor phenotypes 1. Adipocytes-derived factors, known as adipocytokines, may contribute to the regulation of CRC development and progression 2, 3. A hallmark of both obesity and cancer is the state of chronic inflammation induced by hypoxia as a consequence of an excessive accumulation of triglycerides within the adipocytes 4, 5. Under these conditions, AT is altered, resulting in changes in production of steroid hormones and adipokines, metabolic disorders, and chronic subclinical inflammation 6. These alterations have been implicated in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis 7. Adipokines are members of a class of proteins extremely heterogeneous in terms of both structure and function, although they have some common characteristics 8. From the functional point of view, adipokines modulate the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin, regulate appetite, energy expenditure, glucose and lipids metabolism, homeostasis, angiogenesis, blood pressure and all the axis of endocrine and reproductive systems 9. Adiponectin (APN) is the product of the ADIPOQ gene sited on chromosome 3q27, which has been linked to a susceptibility locus for metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease 10. Several studies support the hypothesis that metabolic syndrome or components of metabolic syndrome may be important etiologic factors for certain cancers 11-14. Epidemiologic data strongly support the observation that people with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of colorectal adenoma and cancer 15, 16. Mortality due to colon cancer and obesity is greatly influenced by both genetic and environmental etiologic factors 17. Adipokines may play a crucial role in linking these two diseases 18, 19.

Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) a pro-inflammatory cytokine is centrally implicated in the pathogenesis of both obesity and cancer 20, 21. TNF-α generates a set of responses or independently or through interaction with other molecules physiologically active. This involves cytotoxic responses to tumors and a consequent increase in the carcinogenesis and metastasis 22, 23. Elevated plasma and tissue levels of TNF-α observed in obesity leading to the establishment of constant inflammatory state that increases the risk of colon cancer development 24, 25. APN is considered to have beneficial antineoplastic effects, which are believed to be due to anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory effects, along with antagonizing insulin resistance 26. However, circulating APN level is inversely related with body weight 27. APN is present in the circulation of healthy humans at high concentrations 28, 29. Decreased APN serum levels correlate with tumor development and progression and are inversely associated with markers of inflammation 30. In particular APN reduces TNF-α induced effects on cell proliferation and migration. In vitro studies indicate that TNF-α, which is elevated in conditions of obesity, may be partially responsible for decreased APN production in obesity 31, 32. In obesity, decreased APN serum levels correlate with tumor development and progression 33-35. Therefore, based on this evidence, ADIPOQ gene could be a candidate gene associated with the risk of cancer 36, 37. APN levels have a strong genetic component. Among the variations of the ADIPOQ gene reported, the SNP rs266729 that is found within the promoter region has been shown to be significantly associated with APN level and is thought to be linked to susceptibility to cancer based on its role in influencing serum APN levels 38, 39. APN has been proposed as a determinant factor in the etiology of the MetS, because of its important regulatory action on insulin sensitivity and inflammation 40. Thus, polymorphism in the ADIPOQ gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of the MetS.

In this study, we evaluated whether ADIPOQ rs266729 G/C gene polymorphism and obesity-related plasmatic adipokines represent a predictive risk factor for colorectal cancer in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Methods

Patients

From June 2014 to December 2015, a small sample size of 105 non metastatic CRC patients 50 women and 55 men, median age 70.5 years (33-86) and 50 healthy subjects, median age 56 years were enrolled in this study, at the Giovanni Paolo II National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Bari, Italy. All cases had positive colonoscopic results for malignancy, histologically confirmed as colon cancer. Blood samples were obtained from all subjects at the time of diagnosis. The clinical characteristics of patient (age, sex, therapeutic interventions, etc.) were obtained from medical records. Information regarding weight, height and visceral adiposity of the patients were also recorded. All participants gave written informed consent prior to enrollment in the study, and the Ethical Committee of the NCI approved the protocol in accordance with once the ethical guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki.

Anthropometric parameters and blood collection

Using the height and weight value of all participants, body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m2). Waist circumference was measured with centimeter up to the umbilicus in the standing position after normal expiration. All blood samples of cancer patients were obtained preoperatively. For genotyping whole peripheral blood, 3 ml were collected for all subjects participating in the study. Serum and plasma were collected after a 12-hr fast. For APN and TNF-α ELISA assay, 3 ml of plasma from both patients and healthy donors was immediately separated from the cellular fraction by centrifugation at 2,500 r.p.m. (1,500 × g) for 10 min and frozen at -20˚C until analysis. The analysis of the biochemical profile was conducted in the serum of the subjects immediately after that harvested.

Diagnostic Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome

The definition of metabolic syndrome varies, however, which may indicate that the associations might be dissimilar. The 3 widely used definitions for metabolic syndrome are: 1) the new International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition; 2) the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) definition; and 3) the World Health Organization (WHO) clinical criteria for metabolic syndrome 41, 42.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), is a collection of obesity-associated disorders that comprises dyslipidemia, triglyceride (TG) >150 mg/dl, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol <40 mg/dl in males and <50 in females, impaired fasting glucose (fasting glucose ≥100), visceral adiposity (waist circumference >102 cm in men and >88 cm in woman) and arterial blood pressure >130/85mmHg. Patients were considered to have MetS when they presented 3 or more of the joint statement criteria from the American Heart Association/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 43.

Serum biochemical profiles

Blood fasting serum concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides were measured using commercially available kits on a Hitachi 7150 analyzer (Hitachi Ltd. Tokyo, Japan).

Genotyping

Tetra Primer Amplification Refractory Mutation System PCR (tetra ARMS-PCR)

Genotyping was done after extraction of DNA from whole blood using a standard QIAmp kit (QIAGEN Inc.). For detection of adiponectin polymorphism we performed a Tetra amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) as reported by a previous works 44, 45. In summary from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) we obtained the adiponectin genomic sequence (NT_005612.16). For adiponectin rs266729 polymorphism, we used two external primers (Forward outer: 5`- GGA CTG TGG AGA TGA TAT CTG GGG GGC A-3`, Reverse outer: 5`- TGG CCT AGA AGC AGC CTG GAG AAC TGG A-3`), and the two allele specific internal primers were (Forward inner (C allele): 5`- CTT GCA AGA ACC GGC TCA GAT CCT CCC- 3`, Reverse inner (G allele): 5`- GAG CTG TTC TAC TGC TAT TAG CTC TGC-3`). The final PCR mixture (20 μl) contained DNA (2 μl), 10 × PCR buffer (1.5 μl), 2 mM MgCl2 MgCl2 (1.5 μl), 10mM dNTP (0.3 μl), 0.25 μl of each primer 1 U Taq DNA polymerase and water. The reaction cycle consisted of pre-denaturation at 95 °C for 2 min, denaturation at 95 °C for 20 s, 35 cycles of annealing at 56 °C for 20 s, extension at 72 °C for 40 s and a final extension at 72 °C for 4 min for complete extension of all PCR fragments. The amplified DNA fragments were verified on a 2% agarose gel. Each study participant was classified into one of the three possible genotypes: homozygote C/C, heterozygote C/G or homozygote G/G.

Statistical Analysis

For the continuous variables, data were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U-test, the unpaired Student's t-test and ANOVA. Spearman's correlation was used for the correlation analysis between ADIPOQ and TNF-α. p-Values ≤0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. The allelic and genotypic frequencies were estimated by the Chi-square test between patients and controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated from the logistic model. All statistical analyses were performed by the Number Cruncher Statistical System-Power Analysis and Sample Size Software 2007 (NCSS-PASS, 329 North 1000 East Kaysville, Utah. USA).

Results

We classified three groups of patients in relation to evaluated BMI (kg/m2), according to the definition of the WHO. Group I including 40 pts normal weight (BMI <25), group II including 34 pts overweight (BMI≥25≤29.9) and group III including 31 pts obese with BMI ≥30.

Adiponectin genotypes and allele frequency in colorectal cancer patients

To study the distribution of genotypes and the frequency of alleles of the rs266729 G/C genotypes in colorectal cancer patients, we analyzed genomic DNA extracted from whole-blood in EDTA by Tetra Arms PCR analysis. The product sizes for rs266729, 299-bp for control band, 155-bp for C allele, and 201-bp for G allele, are shown in Figure 1. We found that the frequency of the ADIPOQ G/G genotype (OR=3.5; p=0.006), the presence of the ADIPOQ G allele (G/G and C/G genotypes) (OR=2.9; p=0.02) and the frequency of the ADIPOQ G allele (OR=2.8; p<0.0001) were significantly higher in patients than in controls (Table 1) suggesting that this genotype represent a risk factor for development of colorectal cancer. As reported in Table 2, the frequency of the ADIPOQ G allele was significantly higher in patients in overweight (OR=5, p=0.005) and in obese (OR=4.5, p=0.001). Furthermore, the presence of G allele represents a significant risk factor for developing MetS (OR=3.3, p=0.0004) (Table 3).

Figure 1

(A) Genotyping result for adiponectin gene rs266729. Marker line 8. CC genotype 334 bp: lines 2, 3, 7. CG genotype 334/212/122 bp: lines 1, 4, 5, 6. (B) Genotyping result for adiponectin gene rs266729. Marker line 8. CC genotype 334 bp: lines 3, 6, 7. CG genotype 334/212/122 bp: lines 1, 4. GG genotype-212/122 bp: Lines 2, 5.

Table 1

ADIPOQ rs266729 G/C polymorphism and allelic frequency in patients with colorectal cancer and in controls.

	Patients (N=105)		Control (N=50)		OR (95% C.I.)	p-value
	N	Frequency	N	Frequency
Genotype
CC	30	0.28	27	0.54	reference group
GC	40	0.38	14	0.28	2.5 (1.15-5.7)	0.002
GG	35	0.33	9	0.18	3.5 (1.4-8.5)	0.006
X2 =9.75, p=0.07
Genotype
C/C	30	0.28	27	0.54	reference group
G/C+G/G	75	0.71	23	0.46	2.9 (1.4-5.9)	0.02
X2 =9.4, p=0.002
Allele
C	60	0.29	54	0.54	reference group
G	145	0.71	46	0.46	2.8 (1.7-4.6)	<0.0001
X2 =17.5, p<0.00001

Table 2

ADIPOQ rs266729 genotypes and allele frequency in relation to BMI, and correlation of ADIPOQ rs266729 genotypes with BMI.

	Normal weight (N=40)		Overweight (N=34)		Obesity (N=31)		OR (95% C.I.) vs Over	p-value	OR (95% C.I.) vs Obese	p-value
	N	frequency	N	frequency	N	frequency
Genotype
CC	22	0.55	4	0.11	4	0.12	reference group		reference group
CG	9	0.22	20	0.58	11	0.35	12.2 (3.2-45.9)	0.0002	6.7 (1.6-26.7)	0.006
GG	9	0.22	10	0.29	16	0.51	6.1 (1.5-24.6)	0.001	9.7 (2.5-37.4)	0.009
X2= 26.9, p<0.0001
Genotype
CC	22	0.22	4	0.33	4	0.12	reference group
CG+GG	18	0.77	30	0.66	27	0.87	9.1 (2.7-30.8)	0.03	8.2 (2.4-27.9)	0.0007
X2= 22.1, p<0.0001
Allele
C	24	0.40	8	0.11	8	0.12	reference group
G	36	0.60	60	0.88	54	0.87	5 (2-12.3)	0.0005	4.5 (1.8-11.1)	0.001
X2= 18.9, p<0.0001

Table 3

ADIPOQ rs266729 genotypes and allele frequency in the MetS and non-Mets groups, and correlation of ADIPOQ rs266729 genotypes with Mets.

	MetS yes (N=60)		MetS no (N=45)			p-value
	N	Frequency	N	Frequency
Genotype
CC	23	0.38	7	0.15	Reference group
CG	30	0.33	20	0.44	3.2 (1.15-9.3)	0.02
GG	17	0.28	18	0.40	3.4 (1.2-10)	0.02
X2=6.5, p=0.03
Genotype
CC	23	0.38	7	0.15	Reference group
CG+GG	37	0.61	38	0.84	3.37 (1.2-8.8)	0.01
X2=6.5, p=0.01
Allele
CG	4674	0.380.61	1476	0.150.84	Reference group3.3 (1.7-6.6)	0.0004
X2=13, p=0.0002

Association between circulating levels of APN and TNF-α with clinical characteristic in CRC patients

A significant inverse correlation between the APN and TNF-α circulating levels was found, p=0,0001 (Supplementary Information Figure S1). This inverse correlation between these adipokines was found in all the variables considered (Supplementary Information Table S1). In CRC patients, APN plasma levels were significantly lower than controls (67,3±45 vs 135±30 ng/ml), whereas TNF-α plasma levels were much higher than that found in controls (114±50 vs 6.5±5,5 pg/ml), p<0.0001. These findings demonstrate that the protective role of APN is nullified by the inflammatory state, in which TNF-α takes part. These data are also corroborated by decreased APN levels (p<0.0001; p=0.01) and increased plasma TNF-α (p=0.0001; p=0.03) in relation to tumor stage and poorly differentiated tumors. In addition, lower level of APN (p=0.002) and higher level of TNF-α (p=0.0004) were associated to the female gender. Lower APN levels were also associated to rectal cancer (p=0.01). An inverse association was found between plasma APN with BMI (p=0.0001), APN levels decreased in relation to BMI increases whereas plasma TNF-α increases with increasing BMI, p=0.0001, as shown in Figure 2A-B. In our series, a significant decrease in APN (p=0.0001) and increase of TNF-α circulating levels (p=0.0001) were observed in patients with metabolic syndrome, as shown in Figure 2C-D. Of note, among controls, there was a negative correlation of APN with both BMI and MetS (data not shown). Lowering levels of APN and increased TNF-α suggest that the establishment of inflammatory status predisposes obese patients to MetS.

Figure 2

Plasma levels of APN (A) and TNF-alpha (B) in relation to Body Mass Index. Plasma levels of APN (C) and TNF-alpha (D) in relation to Metabolic Syndrome.

Association between rs266729 G/C gene polymorphisms with plasma adiponectin levels in CRC patients correlated to obesity and metabolic syndrome

We observed that CG/GG genotypes were associated with significantly lower plasma APN levels in comparison to CC genotype p=0.0001, ANOVA test Supplementary Information Table S1. Thus, the genotype influences the circulating plasma levels of ADIPOQ in patients with CRC. To assess the discrepancy of plasma APN levels in overweight/obese patients or in the group of patients with MetS, we investigated the association between genetic polymorphism and circulating levels of APN. We found that the frequency of ADIPOQ C/G genotype and G allele were significantly higher in patients with MetS, than in those without MetS and in overweight/obese patients in comparison to patients with normal weight (Figure 3). In particular, we found that 38 CRC patients with genotype rs266729 G/C or carriers of G allele were associated with lower circulating levels of ADIPOQ suggesting a significantly increased risk of MetS development for these patients compared to those with CC genotype (N=7). In the same way a decrease of circulating APN levels was shown in 57 overweight/obese patients with CG/GG genotype or carriers of G allele compared to patients with normal weight where the higher levels of APN were associated to CC genotype. These data suggest that patients with CC genotype have a lower susceptibility to both obesity and metabolic syndrome compared with patients with CG/GG genotype.

Figure 3

Distribution of ADIPOQ genotype and plasma levels of APN in accordance to Body Mass Index (A) and to Metabolic Syndrome (B) in patients with colorectal cancer.

Discussion

Obesity, a state of low-grade inflammation, is a major health problem associated with an increased risk for MetS and several types of cancer including colorectal cancer. Both obesity and MetS represent important risk factors for development of colorectal cancer 46, 47. Environmental and metabolic factors interact with genetic predisposition in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. The effects of genetic polymorphisms of adiponectin (ADIPOQ) on the risk of cancer incidence have been object of several studies in the last decade 48-50. APN is linked to central obesity and ADIPOQ variants are promising markers for understanding the genetic base of obesity-related disorders 51. Our study has identified ADIPOQ rs266729 G/C polymorphism as a linker between MetS and inflammation in obese patients as well as a predictive risk factor for developing colorectal cancer in the same patients. In addition, our study demonstrate that plasma APN levels are influenced by the ADIPOQ G/C or G/G genotype which lead to a drastic reduction in circulating levels of APN. APN plasma levels are inversely correlated with increased risk for obesity-related malignancies. In our study, in fact, lower levels of plasma APN were found in overweight, obese and patients suffering with MetS. Weight gain is associated with decreased APN circulating levels, and accumulation of visceral fat may produce inhibiting factors such as TNF-α for APN synthesis or secretion 52. It is clear from current research that excess visceral adiposity and associated MetS are important predisposition factors for colon rectal cancer development. The evidence that adipocyte hypertrophy and excessive adipose tissue accumulation can promote pathogenic adipocyte and adipose tissue effects, has led to formulate the concept of “adiposopathy”, defined as adipocyte and adipose tissue dysfunction. Adiposopathy, together with other factors (TG levels, reduced HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure or impaired glucose metabolism), contributes to the MetS initiation 53. The causes and the pathophysiological mechanisms that cause inflammatory state associated with obesity are not fully known. However, adipokines may represent the biochemical link between obesity, inflammation and metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, the adiponectin genetic variability strongly determines the full spectrum of this pathological condition that in association with lifestyle (poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle) predisposes to a greater risk of developing colorectal cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that APN circulating levels are strongly determined by obesity status and that APN expression is inversely correlated with TNF-α. The way the adipose tissue expands (increases in size, hypertrophy, and/or in number of cells, hyperplasia) could regulate synthesis and secretion of adiponectin 54. Drolet et al demonstrated an inverse relationship between mean adipocytes diameter and adiponectin secretion 55. The hypertrophy of adipose tissue leads to a state of adipocyte hypoxia resulting in the release of inflammatory cytokines and inhibition of adiponectin mRNA 56. Furthermore, it was shown that the gene promoter activity of APN was down-regulated by hypoxia and TNF-α 57. The inverse correlation between plasma levels of TNF-α and APN observed in our study confirm the opposite roles exerted by the two cytokines in regulating the inflammatory response and tumor microenvironment. Alteration of APN and TNF-α signaling in obesity could favor the peritumoral milieu that promotes tumor initiation and progression. We have shown that colorectal cancer patients had a significantly lower APN circulating plasma levels compared with controls and that the G/C genotype and the G allele were associated with a major risk of developing colorectal cancer. We assume that low levels of APN in colorectal cancer are accompanied by reduced adiponectin gene expression in adipose tissue and have been associated with ADIPOQ gene rs266729 G/C polymorphism. In our series the inverse correlation between tumor stage and circulating APN suggests that APN may have an important protective role in inflammatory-related carcinogenesis. Our results confirm those shown by Ferroni et al. who demonstrated an inverse correlation between circulating APN levels and tumor stage and were independent predictors of recurrent disease in 60 patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer 58. A case-control study consisting of 75 cases of gastric cancer and 52 healthy controls indicated that patients had significantly lower level of plasma ADIPOQ protein compared with controls (mean level, 9.1 vs. 13.3 for cases vs. controls) 59. The inverse association was also found in colorectal cancer and adenoma. In this study the G allele of rs266729 G/C were associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer 60. Our study supports ADIPOQ gene rs266729 G/C polymorphism as a linker between obesity and inflammation and between chronic inflammation and cancer. While research continues to work toward preventing cancers, nutritional and lifestyle modifications may alleviate metabolic syndrome and reduce the risk. In summary, although a prospective study with large sample size is warranted, in these preliminary data, we have demonstrated that rs266729 G/C polymorphism was closely associated with risk of cancer development and that APN and TNF-α exert an opposed impact on the development of colon cancer in obese states. These findings have led to the hypothesis that an unfavorable adipokine profile with a reduction of adipokines with an anti-inflammatory or anti-cancerous activity could serve as a prognostic factor in CRC patients.

Supplementary figure S1 and table S1.

Click here for additional data file.