ESPE Abstracts

Background: The dysregulation of adipocytokines with increasing fat mass may directly contribute to hypertension. It has been confirmed that chemerin and adiponectin can affect BP. However, the effect of other adipocytokines on the development of hypertension is still poorly understood.

Objective and hypotheses: The aim was to evaluate the associations of Sfrp5 and Wnt5a with blood pressure (BP), and to examine whether BP can be influenced by changes in adipocytokines, such as Sfrp5, adiponectin, chemerin, and hsCRP, in obese children after lifestyle intervention.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 263 obese children. In addition, a 6-month lifestyle intervention was performed in a subgroup of 89 obese children with hypertension. Anthropometric parameters, clinical data, adiponectin, chemerin, Sfrp5, and Wnt5a were measured at baseline and after lifestyle intervention.

Results: Sfrp5 and adiponectin levels were significantly lower in obese children with hypertension, but Wnt5a, hsCRP, and chemerin levels were elevated in obese children with hypertension. In multivariable linear regression analysis, Sfrp5, Wnt5a, adiponectin, chemerin, and hsCRP were associated with both standard deviation score-systolic blood pressure (SDS-SBP) and -diastolic blood pressure (SDS-DBP). Lifestyle intervention resulted in a significant improvement in BP and weight loss. These were accompanied by significant decreases in hsCRP and chemerin, and significant increases in Sfrp5 and adiponectin, whereas Wnt5a was not changed. Furthermore, the changes in Sfrp5, adiponectin, chemerin, and hsCRP act as partial mediators of the relationship between weight loss and BP reduction.

Conclusion: Although Sfrp5 and Wnt5a levels correlated with BP at baseline, after lifestyle intervention, Sfrp5 is more sensitive to reduction in BMI and BP compared to Wnt5a, and the relationship between weight loss and BP reduction were partially mediated by changes in Sfrp5. So we speculate if Sfrp5 and Wnt5a each play a role in regulating BP, it must be different roles.