Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that is capable of local steroid metabolism, including the peripheral conversion of sex steroids. This may contribute to metabolic dysfunction in obesity. Sex-specific variations in adipose tissue distribution and endocrine function are closely linked to metabolic health and reproductive outcomes. In women, obesity is associated with alterations in the sex steroid composition and conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). While mature adipocytes contribute to adipose endocrine function, the role of adipose precursor cells in regulating steroid metabolism remains incompletely understood. This study aims to identify depot-specific gene expression patterns related to steroid metabolism in primary human preadipocytes, focusing on obese female donors to capture potential sex-specific regulatory features.

Methods: Transcriptomic data from human abdominal adipose tissue was analysed using the publicly available GSE25401 data set. Differential expression analysis was performed to identify depot-specific genes associated with steroid metabolism and adipocyte function. Candidate genes of interest were selected based on statistical significance and biological relevance, with attention to pathways involved in glucocorticoid metabolism, adipogenesis and lipid synthesis. These exploratory findings will inform subsequent analyses of primary human subcutaneous and omental preadipocytes isolated from obese female donors.

Results: Exploratory transcriptomic analysis revealed several genes related to adipocyte function and steroid metabolism, including HSD11B1, LEP, and FASN. The observed expression patterns suggest involvement of glucocorticoid metabolism and adipocyte metabolic pathways, whereas classical enzymes of de novo sex steroid biosynthesis were not prominent in this dataset.

Conclusions: This work highlights preadipocytes as a potential regulatory stage in adipose endocrine function and supports the role of adipose tissue in peripheral steroid metabolism. These findings may improve the understanding of how adipose tissue influences sex steroid regulation, metabolic risk, and reproductive health in obesity.