pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sphingolipid content of human adipose tissue: relationship to adiponectin and insulin resistance - PubMed

Sphingolipid content of human adipose tissue: relationship to adiponectin and insulin resistance

Agnieszka U Blachnio-Zabielska et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Ceramides (Cer) are implicated in obesity-associated skeletal muscle and perhaps adipocyte insulin resistance. We examined whether the sphingolipid content of human subcutaneous adipose tissue and plasma varies by obesity and sex as well as the relationship between ceramide content and metabolic indices. Abdominal subcutaneous adipose biopsies were performed on 12 lean adults (males = 6), 12 obese adults (males = 6) for measurement of sphingolipid content and activity of the main ceramide metabolism enzymes. Blood was sampled for glucose, insulin (to calculate homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA(IR))) adiponectin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations. Compared to lean controls, total ceramide content (pg/adipocyte) was increased by 31% (P < 0.05) and 34% (P < 0.05) in obese females and males, respectively. In adipocytes from obese adults sphingosine, sphinganine, sphingosine-1-phosphate, C14-Cer, C16-Cer, and C24-Cer were all increased. C18:1-Cer was increased in obese males and C24:1-Cer in obese females. For women only, there was a negative correlation between C16-Cer ceramide and plasma adiponectin (r = -0.77, P = 0.003) and a positive correlation between total ceramide content and HOMA(IR) (r = 0.74, P = 0.006). For men only there were significant (at least P < 0.05), positive correlations between adipocyte Cer-containing saturated fatty acid and plasma IL-6 concentration. We conclude that the sexual dimorphism in adipose tissue behavior in humans extends to adipose tissue sphingolipid content its association with adiponectin, IL-6 and insulin resistance.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1

Relationship between plasma adiponectin concentration and total ceramide content in white adipose tissue (upper panel) and HOMA-IR and total ceramide content in white adipose tissue (lower panel) in females.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Despres J-P, Lemieux I. Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome. Nature. 2006;444:881–887. - PubMed
    1. Lapidus L, Bengtsson C, Bjorntorp P. The quantitative relationship between"the metabolic syndrome " and abdominal obesity in women. Obes Res. 1994;2:372–377. - PubMed
    1. Axelsson J, Heimburger O, Lindholm B, Stenvinkel P. Adipose tissue and its relation to inflammation: the role of adipokines. J Ren Nutr. 2005;15:131–136. - PubMed
    1. Hotamisligil GS. Molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance and the role of the adipocyte. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2000;24(Suppl 4):S23–S27. - PubMed
    1. Verheij M, Bose R, Lin XH, et al. Requirement for ceramide-initiated SAPK/JNK signalling in stress-induced apoptosis. Nature. 1996;380:75–79. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances