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Analysis of institutional authors

López-Trascasa MAuthor

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June 28, 2021
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Article

Complement factor d (Adipsin) levels are elevated in acquired partial lipodystrophy (barraquer–simons syndrome)

Publicated to:INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. 22 (12): - 2021-06-02 22(12), DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126608

Authors: Corvillo F; González-Sánchez L; López-Lera A; Arjona E; Ceccarini G; Santini F; Araújo-Vilar D; Brown RJ; Villarroya J; Villarroya F; de Córdoba SR; Caballero T; Nozal P; López-Trascasa M

Affiliations

Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Pisana - Author
Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases - Author
CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN) - Author
CIBER Fisiopatol Obesidad & Nutr, Madrid 28029, Spain - Author
CSIC - Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB) - Author
Ctr Biomed Network Res Rare Dis, Madrid 28029, Spain - Author
Hosp La Paz Inst Hlth Res IdiPAZ, Madrid 28046, Spain - Author
Hospital Universitario La Paz - Author
Instituto de Investigacion Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ) - Author
La Paz Univ Hosp, Dept Allergy, Madrid 28046, Spain - Author
La Paz Univ Hosp, Hosp La Paz Inst Hlth Res IdiPAZ, Complement Res Grp, Madrid 28046, Spain - Author
La Paz Univ Hosp, Immunol Unit, Madrid 28046, Spain - Author
Margarita Salas Ctr Biol Res, Dept Mol Biomed, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) - Author
NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20814 USA - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Dept Med, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Barcelona, Dept Bioquim & Biomed Mol, Inst Biomed, Barcelona 08007, Catalonia, Spain - Author
Univ Hosp Pisa, Obes & Lipodystrophy Ctr, Dept Clin & Expt Med, Endocrinol Unit, I-56126 Pisa, Italy - Author
Univ Santiago de Compostela, Dept Psychiat Radiol Publ Hlth Nursing & Med, UETeM Mol Pathol Grp, IDIS CIMUS, Santiago De Compostela 15703, Spain - Author
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Facultad de Medicina - Author
Universidad de Santiago de Compostela - Author
Universitat de Barcelona - Author
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Abstract

Complement overactivation has been reported in most patients with Barraquer–Simons syndrome (BSS), a rare form of acquired partial lipodystrophy. Complement Factor D (FD) is a serine protease with a crucial role in the activation of the alternative pathway of the complement system, which is mainly synthesized by adipose tissue. However, its role in the pathogenesis of BSS has not been addressed. In this study, plasma FD concentration was measured in 13 patients with BSS, 20 patients with acquired generalized lipodystrophy, 22 patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), and 50 healthy controls. Gene expression and immunohistochemistry studies were assayed using atrophied adipose tissue from a patient with BSS. We found significantly elevated FD levels in BSS cases compared with the remaining cohorts (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in FD levels between sexes but FD was strongly and directly associated with age in BSS (r = 0.7593, p = 0.0036). A positive correlation between FD and C3 was seen in patients with C3G, characterized by decreased FD levels due to chronic C3 consumption, but no correlation was detected for BSS. Following mRNA quantification in the patient’s adipose tissue, we observed decreased CFD and C3 but elevated C5 transcript levels. In contrast, the increased FD staining detected in the atrophied areas reflects the effects of persistent tissue damage on the adipose tissue, thus providing information on the ongoing pathogenic process. Our results suggest that FD could be a reliable diagnostic biomarker involved in the pathophysiology of BSS by promoting unrestrained local complement system activation in the adipose tissue environment.

Keywords

acquired partial lipodystrophyactivationadipokinesadipsinbarraquer-simons syndromebarraquer–simons syndromeclassificationcomplement factor dcomplement systemdiagnosisfeaturesmetabolismnonobesepathwaysystemAcquired partial lipodystrophyAdipose-tissueAdipsinBarraquer–simons syndromeComplement factor dComplement system

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position 69/297, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 1.48, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-17, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 6
  • Scopus: 8
  • Europe PMC: 5

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-17:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 21.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 21 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 0.5.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/698029

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy; United States of America.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (LOPEZ TRASCASA, MARGARITA).