MFAP2 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: In the present study, we report significantly decreased MFAP2 gene expression levels in the VAT due to obesity and CC together with an opposite trend in the gene expression levels of TGFB1. Considering the high affinity interaction between MAGP-1 and TGF-β, the inverse regulation of their gene expression levels may indicate that the decreased levels of MAGP-1 coexist with higher free active TGF-β, prompting its interaction with the surrounding cells in the ECM of VAT.