Obesity is associated with increased levels of circulating MPs and increased adipose activity of Rho associated kinase and caspase 3

<p>Annexin V positive MPs from (A) ob control or ob/ob mice. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and PFP was obtained as detailed in methods section. Annexin V positive MPs were analyzed by flow cytometry (n = 5 each group). (B) Dynamic light scattering analysis and Transmission Electron Microscopy of isolated circulating MPs. (C) Western blot analysis of perilipin A levels in MPs isolated from mouse PFP in WT mice on a regular chow diet and ob/ob mice (n = 3 each group). Perilipin A abundance in MPs isolated from mouse PFP correlated to: (D) total mouse body weights and (E) weight of extracted mouse epididymal fat pads. (F) Western blots of p-MYPT1, total MYPT1/2, cleaved (active) caspase 3, total caspase 3, and actin levels in subcutaneous and epididymal adipose tissue lysates from ob control or ob/ob mice. Quantification of Western blots of (G) cleaved caspase 3 and (H) p-MYPT in ob control and ob/ob mice adipose tissues normalized to actin levels. Values represent mean ± S.E.M. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001 compared to respective controls.