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Diabetologia
Published in: Diabetologia 2/2008

01-02-2008 | Article

Fatty acid desaturases in human adipose tissue: relationships between gene expression, desaturation indexes and insulin resistance

Authors: P. Sjögren, J. Sierra-Johnson, K. Gertow, M. Rosell, B. Vessby, U. de Faire, A. Hamsten, M.-L. Hellenius, R. M. Fisher

Published in: Diabetologia | Issue 2/2008

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Abstract

Aims/hypothesis

Fatty acid desaturases introduce double bonds into growing fatty acid chains. The key desaturases in humans are Δ5-desaturase (D5D), Δ6-desaturase (D6D) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD). Animal and human data implicate hepatic desaturase activities in insulin resistance, obesity and dyslipidaemia. However, the role of desaturase activity in adipose tissue is uncertain. We therefore evaluated relationships between adipose mRNA expression, estimated desaturase activities (fatty acid ratios) in adipose tissue and insulin resistance.

Methods

Subcutaneous adipose tissue mRNA expression of D5D (also known as FADS1), D6D (also known as FADS2) and SCD was determined in 75 individuals representative of the study population of 294 healthy 63-year-old men. Desaturation indexes (product/substrate fatty acid ratios) were generated from adipose tissue fatty acid composition in all individuals. Insulin resistance was defined as the upper quartile of the updated homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-2) index.

Results

The relevant desaturation indexes (16:1/16:0, 18:1/18:0, 20:4/20:3 and 18:3/18:2) reflected expression of SCD, but not of D5D or D6D in adipose tissue. Insulin-resistant individuals had a higher adipose tissue 18:1/18:0, but not 16:1/16:0 ratio than insulin-sensitive individuals. Individuals with a high adipose tissue 18:1/18:0 ratio were 4.4-fold (95% CI 1.8–11.8) more likely to be insulin resistant [threefold (95% CI 1.1–8.6) after adjustment for waist circumference and plasma triacylglycerol]. In a multiple regression model predicting HOMA-2, the independent effect of the 18:1/18:0 ratio was borderline (p = 0.086).

Conclusions/interpretation

Adipose tissue desaturation indexes of SCD reflect the expression of the gene encoding the enzyme in this tissue. Elevated SCD activity within adipose tissue is closely coupled to the development of insulin resistance.
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Metadata
Title
Fatty acid desaturases in human adipose tissue: relationships between gene expression, desaturation indexes and insulin resistance
Authors
P. Sjögren
J. Sierra-Johnson
K. Gertow
M. Rosell
B. Vessby
U. de Faire
A. Hamsten
M.-L. Hellenius
R. M. Fisher
Publication date
01-02-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Diabetologia / Issue 2/2008
Print ISSN: 0012-186X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0428
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-007-0876-9

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