Adiposome Proteomics Uncover Molecular Signatures of Cardiometabolic Risk in Obese Individuals.

Abstract

Background: Adipose-derived extracellular vesicles (adiposomes) are emerging as key mediators of inter-organ communication, yet their molecular composition and role in obesity-related pathophysiology remain underexplored. This study integrates clinical phenotyping with proteomic analysis of visceral adipose-derived adiposomes to identify obesity-linked molecular disruptions.

Methods: Seventy-five obese and forty-seven lean adults were extensively profiled for metabolic, inflammatory, hepatic, and vascular parameters. Adiposomes isolated from visceral fat underwent mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis, followed by differential abundance, pathway enrichment, regulatory network modeling, and clinical association testing.

Results: Obese individuals exhibited widespread cardiometabolic dysfunction. Proteomics revealed 64 adiposomal proteins with differential abundance. Upregulated proteins (e.g., CRP, C9, APOC1) correlated with visceral adiposity, systemic inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. In contrast, downregulated proteins (e.g., ADIPOQ, APOD, TTR, FGB, FGG) were associated with enhanced nitric oxide bioavailability and vascular protection, suggesting loss of homeostatic signaling. Network analyses identified TNF and IL1 as key upstream regulators driving inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. Decision tree and random forest models accurately classified obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hepatic steatosis (AUC = 0.908-0.994), identifying predictive protein signatures related to complement activation, inflammation, and lipid transport.

Conclusion: Obesity alters adiposome proteomic cargo, reflecting and potentially mediating systemic inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and vascular impairment.