Contribution of visceral fat accumulation to the risk factors for atherosclerosis in non-obese Japanese.

Objective: To clarify the contributions of visceral fat tissue (VAT) mass deposition to the accumulation of risk factors for atherosclerosis in normal weight subjects.

Subjects And Methods: We investigated the relationship between VAT accumulation and both risk factors and waist circumference in non-obese subjects. In the 955 normal weight Japanese subjects (782 men and 173 women), visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and waist circumference were measured through computed tomography.

Fibronectin signaling stimulates BNP gene transcription by inhibiting neuron-restrictive silencer element-dependent repression.

Objective: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone mainly synthesized in ventricles and its expression is markedly increased in ventricular hypertrophy that involves the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, such as fibronectin (Fn). We recently reported that Fn signaling stimulated BNP secretion accompanied by hypertrophic responses in vitro.

Methods: To elucidate the regulatory mechanism for BNP gene transcription, we examined cis-acting elements downstream of Fn signaling in rat ventricular myocytes transfected with either the -1812 human BNP-luciferase reporter gene (-1812hBNP/Luc) or one of several truncated forms.