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Sphingolipid Content of Human Adipose Tissue: Relationship to Adiponectin and Insulin Resistance
Author(s) -
BlachnioZabielska Agnieszka U.,
Koutsari Christina,
Tchkonia Tamara,
Jensen Michael D.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2012.126
Subject(s) - adiponectin , insulin resistance , adipose tissue , sphingolipid , endocrinology , medicine , obesity , adipokine , insulin , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
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.