Abstract
Background/ObjectivesFatty acid handling proteins are involved in the process of accumulation of lipids in different fat tissue depots. Thus, the aim of the study was to estimate the expression of both fatty acid transport and binding proteins in the subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of patients with morbid obesity without metabolic syndrome, as well as the plasma concentrations of these transporters.Subjects/MethodsProtein (Western blotting) and mRNA (Real-time PCR) expression of selected fatty acid handling proteins was assessed in the visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue of 30 patients with morbid obesity. The control group consisted of 10 lean age-matched patients. Plasma levels of fatty acid protein transporters were also evaluated using ELISA method. Moreover, total plasma fatty acid composition and concentration was determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC).ResultsSignificant increase in fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) mRNA (P = 0.03) and plasmalemmal (P = 0.01) expression was observed in VAT of patients with morbid obesity vs. lean subjects together with elevation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in both examined compartments of adipose tissue. Moreover, in obese subjects plasma concentration of RBP4 was markedly elevated (P = 0.04) and sCD36 level presented a tendency for an increase (P = 0.08) with concomitant lack of changes in FABP4 concentration (P > 0.05).ConclusionsFatty acid transport into adipocytes may be, at least in part, related to the increased expression of FAT/CD36 in the VAT of morbidly obese patients, which is accompanied by augmented expression of LPL, as well as PPARγ. Probably, alternations in plasma concentrations of RBP4 and sCD36 in obese patients are associated with “unhealthy” fat distribution.
Highlights
Obesity is one of the most serious health problems in many countries and the prevalence of its occurrence is increasing worldwide[1]
Significant increase in fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) mRNA (P = 0.03) and plasmalemmal (P = 0.01) expression was observed in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of patients with morbid obesity vs. lean subjects together with elevation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in both examined compartments of adipose tissue
Fatty acid transport into adipocytes may be, at least in part, related to the increased expression of FAT/ CD36 in the VAT of morbidly obese patients, which is accompanied by augmented expression of LPL, as well as PPARγ
Summary
Obesity is one of the most serious health problems in many countries and the prevalence of its occurrence is increasing worldwide[1]. Grzegorczyk et al Nutrition and Diabetes (2018)8:3 referred to peripheral fat accumulation, whereas visceral obesity is generally related to abdominal fat accumulation within omental and mesenteric fat depots. Protein transporters that were found to be highly involved in the facilitation of fatty acid uptake in adipose tissue are[4] fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), plasmalemmal fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm), fatty acid transport protein (FATP-4), and cytosolic adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (FABP4). FABP4 is the most abundant cytosolic isoform in adipocytes, which controls intracellular fatty acid transport and subsequent metabolism in fat tissue. The relative content of FABP4 in humans varies in different fat tissue depots and it has been shown that its mRNA level is related to the circulating insulin concentration in obese subjects[7]
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