Eva Sjölin

The common rs9939609 gene variant of the fat mass- and obesity-associated gene FTO is related to fat cell lipolysis

We investigated the rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism of the FTO gene in relation to fat cell function and adipose tissue gene expression in 306 healthy women with a wide range in body mass index (18–53 kg/m2). Subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies were taken for fat cell metabolism studies and in a subgroup (n = 90) for gene expression analyses. In homozygous carriers of the T-allele, the in vitro basal (spontaneous) adipocyte glycerol release was increased by 22% (P = 0.007) and the in vivo plasma glycerol level was increased by ∼30% (P = 0.037) compared with carriers of the A allele. In contrast, there were no genotype effects on catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis or basal or insulin-induced lipogenesis. We found no difference between genotypes for adipose tissue mRNA levels of FTO, hormone-sensitive lipase, adipose triglyceride lipase, perilipin, or CGI-58. Finally, the adipose tissue level of FTO mRNA was increased in obesity (P = 0.002), was similar in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue, was higher in fat cells than in fat tissue (P = 0.0007), and was induced at an early stage in the differentiation process (P = 0.004). These data suggest a role of the FTO gene in fat cell lipolysis, which may be important in explaining why the gene is implicated in body weight regulation.

Strong association between mitochondrial DNA copy number and lipogenesis in human white adipose tissue

Aims/hypothesisRecent studies suggest a link between insulin resistance and mitochondrial function in white fat cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate adipocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in relation to adipocyte and clinical variables that are related to insulin sensitivity.MethodsWe studied a group of 148 healthy volunteers with a large inter-individual variation in BMI. Relative amounts of mtDNA and nuclear DNA were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The mtDNA:nuclear DNA ratio reflects the tissue concentration of mtDNA per cell.ResultsThe mtDNA copy number was enriched in adipocytes of adipose tissue and decreased slightly by ageing (p = 0.015) and increasing BMI (p = 0.004); however, it was not influenced by sex, energy-restricted diets or marked long-term weight reduction. Adipose mtDNA copy number was not independently related to resting energy expenditure, overall insulin sensitivity or adipocyte lipolysis. However, it showed a strong positive correlation with basal (p = 0.0012) and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis (p < 0.0001) in fat cells, independently of age and BMI, and a weak positive correlation with levels of mRNA from several genes involved in mitochondrial oxidative capacity (r = 0.2–0.3).Conclusions/interpretationThe mtDNA copy number in human white fat cells is fairly stable within healthy individuals. It is not influenced by sex or weight loss and is not important for overall insulin sensitivity or energy expenditure at rest. However, it is strongly related to adipocyte lipogenesis and weakly to mitochondrial oxidative capacity, suggesting that adipocyte mitochondria are, above all, local regulators.

Lipolysis—Not inflammation, cell death, or lipogenesis—Is involved in adipose tissue loss in cancer cachexia†

Cancer cachexia is an important, negative prognostic marker that has been linked to systemic inflammation and cell death through unclear mechanisms. A key feature of cancer cachexia is loss of white adipose tissue (WAT) because of increased adipocyte lipolysis and possibly reduced lipid synthesis (lipogenesis). In this study, the authors investigated whether alterations in fat cell numbers, lipogenesis, or cytokine and/or leukocyte infiltration could account for some of the functional changes observed in WAT in cancer cachexia.

A role of lipin in human obesity and insulin resistance: relation to adipocyte glucose transport and GLUT4 expression

The mouse lipin gene, Lpin1, is important for adipose tissue development and is a candidate gene for insulin resistance. Here, we investigate the adipose tissue expression levels of the human LPIN1 gene in relation to various clinical variables as well as adipocyte function. LPIN1 gene expression was induced at an early step in human preadipocyte differentiation in parallel with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. Lipin mRNA levels were higher in fat cells than in adipose tissue segments but showed no difference between subcutaneous and omental depots. Moreover, LPIN1 expression levels were reduced in obesity, improved following weight reduction in obese subjects, and were downregulated in women with the metabolic syndrome. With respect to adipocyte function, adipose LPIN1 gene expression was strongly associated with both basal and insulin-mediated subcutaneous adipocyte glucose transport as well as mRNA levels of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). We show that body fat accumulation is a major regulator of human adipose LPIN1 expression and suggest a role of LPIN1 in human preadipocyte as well as mature adipocyte function.

Regulation of Lipolysis in Small and Large Fat Cells of the Same Subject

CONTEXT Large fat cell size is linked to type 2 diabetes risk and may involve an enhanced rate of adipocyte lipolysis causing elevated levels of fatty acids. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to study the role of fat cell size in the regulation of lipolysis within a subject. DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained from 16 healthy subjects. Large and small adipocytes were isolated for each sample. Hormonal regulation of lipolysis and expression of lipolysis-regulating proteins were investigated. RESULTS No effect of cell size on the rate of lipolysis was observed when lipolysis was expressed per lipid weight of fat cells. However, when expressed per number of fat cells, the lipolysis was significantly higher in large as compared with small adipocytes. This was observed in both the unstimulated (basal) state and in the presence of the major lipolysis-regulating hormones such as catecholamines (stimulating), natriuretic peptides (stimulating), and insulin (inhibiting). The receptor properties (number, affinity, and coupling) for these hormones did not differ between large and small adipocytes. However, the expression of proteins regulating the final steps in hormone signaling to lipolysis (hormone-sensitive lipase, adipose triglyceride lipase, and perilipin) was increased in large adipocytes. CONCLUSION Independently of the donor, sc fat cell size per se determines lipolysis rates. Large adipocytes have increased lipolytic capacity, probably due to the enrichment of regulatory proteins distal in the lipolytic cascade, to which all lipolytic signals converge (lipases and perilipin). Enhanced lipolytic capacity may link adipocyte hypertrophy to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Healthy Nordic diet downregulates the expression of genes involved in inflammation in subcutaneous adipose tissue in individuals with features of the metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND Previously, a healthy Nordic diet (ND) has been shown to have beneficial health effects close to those of Mediterranean diets. OBJECTIVE The objective was to explore whether the ND has an impact on gene expression in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and whether changes in gene expression are associated with clinical and biochemical effects. DESIGN Obese adults with features of the metabolic syndrome underwent an 18- to 24-wk randomized intervention study comparing the ND with the control diet (CD) (the SYSDIET study, carried out within Nordic Centre of Excellence of the Systems Biology in Controlled Dietary Interventions and Cohort Studies). The present study included participants from 3 Nordic SYSDIET centers [Kuopio (n = 20), Lund (n = 18), and Oulu (n = 18)] with a maximum weight change of ±4 kg, highly sensitive C-reactive protein concentration <10 mg/L at the beginning and the end of the intervention, and baseline body mass index (in kg/m²) <38. SAT biopsy specimens were obtained before and after the intervention and subjected to global transcriptome analysis with Gene 1.1 ST Arrays (Affymetrix). RESULTS Altogether, 128 genes were differentially expressed in SAT between the ND and CD (nominal P < 0.01; false discovery rate, 25%). These genes were overrepresented in pathways related to immune response (adjusted P = 0.0076), resulting mainly from slightly decreased expression in the ND and increased expression in the CD. Immune-related pathways included leukocyte trafficking and macrophage recruitment (e.g., interferon regulatory factor 1, CD97), adaptive immune response (interleukin32, interleukin 6 receptor), and reactive oxygen species (neutrophil cytosolic factor 1). Interestingly, the regulatory region of the 128 genes was overrepresented for binding sites for the nuclear transcription factor κB. CONCLUSION A healthy Nordic diet reduces inflammatory gene expression in SAT compared with a control diet independently of body weight change in individuals with features of the metabolic syndrome.

Uraemic sera stimulate lipolysis in human adipocytes: role of perilipin

BACKGROUND Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance, the exact cause(s) are unknown. Since adipose tissue plays an important role in the development of these complications, we investigated the effect of uraemic sera on human adipocytes in vitro. METHODS Cultured human adipocytes were incubated for 48 h with media containing sera from eight CKD Stage 5 patients or four (matched for age, sex and body mass index) healthy controls. Glycerol release (an index of lipolysis) was determined in conditioned media. RNA was isolated from the cells and quantitative polymerase chain reaction of genes involved in lipolysis was performed. In vivo lipolysis was determined by the plasma glycerol/total fat mass (from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) ratio in 28 CKD patients and 28 matched controls. RESULTS Incubation with uraemic, but not control, sera resulted in a significant ∼30% increase in spontaneous (basal) lipolysis (P <0.05). Furthermore, uraemic but not control sera induced a selective ∼30% reduction of messenger RNA (mRNA) coding for the lipid-droplet-associated protein perilipin (PLIN) (P <0.05), while mRNA levels of lipases, adipokines and differentiation factors did not differ between the groups after incubation. Also, consistent with our in vitro data, in vivo plasma glycerol/fat mass ratio was significantly elevated in uraemic patients as compared to controls (5.23 ± 4.1 versus 3.41 ± 2.3 μM/kg, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Undefined circulating factors in CKD patients increase basal lipolysis in human adipocytes in vitro, probably by attenuating the expression of the lipolytic regulator PLIN. Since in vivo lipolysis is a well-established risk factor for insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease, these effects may promote increased morbidity and mortality in CKD.

Differential lipolytic regulation in human embryonic stem cell-derived adipocytes.

Objective: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have raised great hopes for future clinical applications. Several groups have succeeded in differentiating hESCs into adipocytes, as determined by morphology, mRNA expression, and protein secretion. However, determination of lipolytic response, the most important characteristic of adipocytes, has not been performed. This work was intended to study adipogenic conversion of hESCs by functional assessment of differentiation.

Effects of pain controlling neuropeptides on human fat cell lipolysis

Objective:Neuropeptides NPFF and NPSF are involved in pain control, acting through the G-protein coupled receptors (GPR)74 (high affinity for NPFF) and GPR147 (equal affinity for NPFF and NPSF). GPR74 also inhibits catecholamine-induced adipocyte lipolysis and regulates fat mass in humans. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of NPFF and NPSF on noradrenaline-induced lipolysis and to determine the expression of their receptors in human fat cells.Design:Adipose tissue was obtained during surgery. Adipocytes were prepared and kept in primary culture. Lipolysis, protein expression and gene expression were determined.Results:NPFF counteracted noradrenaline-induced lipolysis, which was more marked after 48 h than after 4 h exposure and was solely attributed to inhibition of β-adrenoceptor signalling. NPSF counteracted noradrenaline-induced lipolysis maximally after 4 h of exposure, which was attributed to a combination of inhibition of β-adrenoceptor signalling and decreased activation of the protein kinase-A hormone sensitive lipase complex by cyclic AMP. Both neuropeptides were effective in nanomolar concentrations. NPFF and NPSF had no effects on the expression of genes involved in catecholamine signal transduction. Both GPR74 and GPR147 were expressed at the protein level in fat cells from various adipose regions. GPR74 mRNA levels were higher in adipose tissue from obese as compared with non-obese subjects. High gene expression of either receptor correlated with low noradrenaline-induced lipolysis (P<0.05).Conclusions:Pain controlling neuropeptides NPFF and NPSF may be important for the regulation of lipolysis in man probably acting through GPR74 and GPR147. At low concentrations they inhibit catecholamine-induced lipolysis through rapid and long-term post-transcriptional effects at several steps in adrenoceptor signalling in fat cells.