TNC and morbid obesity: In the present study of adipose tissue we found a strong over-expression in morbid obesity of several fibrogenic factors, including macrophage-secreted factors [16], ETS transcription factors [38], hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1A [9], plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1/SERPINE1 (Entrez Gene 5054) [39], tenascin C (TNC) (Entrez Gene 3371) [40], serum/glucocorticoid kinase (SGK) (Entrez Gene 6446) [41], and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) (Entrez Gene 1490) [38].