Abstract
Objectives: We tested whether African-American (AA) women are different from Caucasian women in regard to lipotoxicity, adipokines, and gene expression in adipose tissue and muscle. Design: Insulin sensitivity (SI), plasma adipocytokine levels, intramyocellular lipid (IMCL), and the expression of candidate genes in adipose tissue and muscle were measured in AA and Caucasian women. Setting: This study was performed in an ambulatory general clinical research center. Subjects: Subjects were healthy, nondiabetic AA and Caucasian women. Interventions: There were no interventions. Main Outcome Measures: Comparison of SI, IMCL, plasma adiponectin, and the expression of candidate genes regulating adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and inflammation in adipose tissue and muscle. Results: AA had lower plasma adiponectin and IMCL when compared with Caucasian women with similar SI. In sc adipose tissue (SAT), the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis including peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPARγ) and lipin-1β were also reduced in SAT of AA subjects (19%, P = 0.06, and 25%, P = 0.05, respectively). Similarly, 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 2 (AGPAT 2), stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1 (SCD1), and CD36 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in SAT by 19, 54, and 28% respectively (P < 0.01 for all) in AA compared with Caucasian women. Yet the expression of CD68 in SAT was similar in both ethnic groups. Gene expression studies in muscle revealed a 31% reduction in expression of AGPAT 2 and a 72% reduction in SCD1 genes in AA. Conclusion: AA women demonstrated lower expression of several PPARγ-responsive genes in adipose tissue, lower plasma adiponectin, and decreased IMCL levels as compared with Caucasians, which suggests that African-Americans may be protected from lipotoxicity. Together these data suggest significant ethnic differences in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4441-4448 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism |
Volume | 95 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2010 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by a Merit Review Grant from the Veterans Administration (to N.R.) , Grants DK080327 and DK071349 (to P.A.K.), and Grant UL1RR029884 from the National Center for Research Resources.
Funding
This work was supported by a Merit Review Grant from the Veterans Administration (to N.R.) , Grants DK080327 and DK071349 (to P.A.K.), and Grant UL1RR029884 from the National Center for Research Resources.
Funders | Funder number |
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National Institutes of Health (NIH) | R01DK080327 |
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases | R01DK071349 |
National Center for Research Resources | |
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | DK080327, DK071349, UL1RR029884 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Biochemistry, medical