Serum scEMC10 Levels are Negatively Associated With Resting Metabolic Rate and age in Humans

Abstract Context We have recently shown that the secreted isoform of endoplasmic reticulum membrane complex subunit 10 (scEMC10) is upregulated in human obesity and that overexpression of scEMC10 promotes, whereas antibody neutralization of circulating scEMC10 prevents diet-induced obesity in mice. Objective To explore associations of serum scEMC10 with body mass index (BMI), resting metabolism rate (RMR), and age in humans. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting and Patients A total of 833 participants from a Chinese physical examination cohort and 191 participants from the Leipzig Obesity Biobank cohort. Main Outcome Measures Serum scEMC10 concentrations are measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay. RMR is calculated based on measurements from indirect calorimetry with an open-circuit ventilated-hood system. Results In the Chinese physical examination cohort, a J-shaped nonlinear correlation between BMI and serum scEMC10 was identified in participants where underweight, overweight, and obese people all presented higher serum scEMC10 levels than normal weight people. Participants younger than age 30 years old exhibited significantly higher serum scEMC10 levels than those older than 50 years of age. In addition, participants aged 30 to 40 years also had significantly higher serum scEMC10 levels than those aged 50 to 60 years. In the Leipzig Obesity Biobank cohort, we observed a significantly negative correlation between serum scEMC10 and resting energy expenditure after adjusting for BMI. Participants in the highest quartile of serum scEMC10 levels had significantly lower RMR than those in the first quartile. RMR had an independently inverse association with serum scEMC10. Conclusions Serum scEMC10 levels are negatively associated with age and RMR in humans.