Weight Gain and Impaired Glucose Metabolism in Women Are Predicted by Inefficient Subcutaneous Fat Cell Lipolysis

Publication date: Available online 31 May 2018
Source:Cell Metabolism
Author(s): Peter Arner, Daniel P. Andersson, Jesper Bäckdahl, Ingrid Dahlman, Mikael Rydén
Adipocyte mobilization of fatty acids (lipolysis) is instrumental for energy expenditure. Lipolysis displays both spontaneous (basal) and hormone-stimulated activity. It is unknown if lipolysis is important for future body weight gain and associated disturbed glucose metabolism, and this was presently investigated in subcutaneous adipocytes from two female cohorts before and after ≥10-year follow-up. High basal and low stimulated lipolysis at baseline predicted future weight gain (odds ratios ≥4.6) as well as development of insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose/type 2 diabetes (odds ratios ≥3.2). At baseline, weight gainers displayed lower adipose expression of several established lipolysis-regulating genes. Thus, inefficient lipolysis (high basal/low stimulated) involving altered gene expression is linked to future weight gain and impaired glucose metabolism and may constitute a treatment target. Finally, low stimulated lipolysis could be accurately estimated in vivo by simple clinical/biochemical measures and may be used to identify risk individuals for intensified preventive measures.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Although differences in energy metabolism may promote weight gain, the involved tissue(s) are unknown. Here, Arner et al. report that altered subcutaneous fat cell lipolysis is independently linked to long-term weight gain and disturbed glucose metabolism. This may depend on primary defects in the expression of specific lipolytic regulators.


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