# Correlation of the differential expressions of RANK, RANKL, and OPG with obesity in the elderly population in Xinjiang

## TL;DR

This study examines how RANK, RANKL, and OPG gene and protein expressions in leukocytes correlate with obesity in elderly people from Xinjiang.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific gene and protein expression patterns in obesity-related inflammation among elderly individuals in Xinjiang.

## Key findings

- RANK gene and RANKL protein and gene expressions were significantly higher in obese elderly patients.
- Abdominal circumference correlated with RANK, RANKL, and OPG expressions in leukocytes of obese patients.
- Differential expressions of RANK and RANKL were significantly associated with obesity in the elderly population.

## Abstract

Obesity has been recognized as a global epidemic and public health crisis. The prevalence of obesity has tripled since 1975, especially in the elderly population. Accumulating preclinical and clinical studies have confirmed that chronic low-grade inflammation of adipose tissues is mechanistically related to metabolic diseases and tissue complications in overweight and obesity patients, as a result of the intricate interplay of various pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signaling cascades. The present study aims to explore the differential expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), RANK ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in leukocytes of elderly obesity patients in Xinjiang, thereby providing new physiological, cellular, and molecular targets for the treatment of obesity.

A total of 40 obesity patients and 40 non-obesity patients were selected. The protein and gene expression levels of RANK, RANKL, and OPG in peripheral blood were detected by western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR.

There was no significant difference in the expression levels of RANK protein, OPG protein, and OPG gene between the obesity group and non-obesity group (P > 0.05). The relative expression levels of the RANK gene and RANKL protein and gene were significantly different between the obesity group and non-obesity group (P < 0.05). The differential expressions of the RANK gene, RANKL protein and gene, and the OPG protein in leukocytes had a significant correlation with obesity in the elderly population (P < 0.05).

The expressions of the RANKL protein and gene and RANK gene in leukocytes of elderly obesity patients in Xinjiang were higher than those of non-obesity patients. In the elderly obesity patients in Xinjiang, the abdominal circumference was correlated with the expressions of the RANK gene, RANKL protein and gene, and OPG protein in leukocytes.