Insulin resistance in African-American and Caucasian women: Differences in lipotoxicity, adipokines, and gene expression in adipose tissue and muscle

Latasha M. Smith, Aiwei Yao-Borengasser, Tasha Starks, Mark Tripputi, Philip A. Kern, Neda Rasouli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4441-4448
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume95
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 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.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)R01DK080327
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesR01DK071349
National Center for Research Resources
U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsDK080327, DK071349, UL1RR029884

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
    • Biochemistry
    • Endocrinology
    • Clinical Biochemistry
    • Biochemistry, medical

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