Modulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid content of triglycerides in rat pre-adipocytes in culture

Incorporation of [1-13C]oleate into cellular triglycerides in differentiating 3T3L1 cells

Oleate is one of the most abundant dietary fatty acids, and much remains to be learned about its metabolism in fat cells. We studied the incorporation of exogenous [1-13C]oleate into triglycerides (TG) in differentiating 3T3L1 preadipocytes using 13C NMR spectroscopy. The quantity of oleate incorporated into TG was found to increase as preadipocytes differentiated into fat cells. The ratio of unesterified [1-13C]oleate to total stored fatty acids was higher in less differentiated cells, and declined at later stages of differentiation as cells accumulated fatty acids through de novo synthesis. When added as the only exogenous fatty acid, oleate was largely esterified at the sn-2 position. When equimolar unlabeled linoleate was co-provided at the same time, the ratio of [1-13C]oleate esterified at the sn-1,3 position increased, implying competition between linoleate and oleate for esterification, especially at the sn-2 position. When cells pre-enriched with [1-13C]oleate (esterified to TG) were treated with isoproterenol, a lipolytic agent, most of the [1-13C]oleate was still found in TG, despite a high rate of lipolysis determined by measuring glycerol release. This implies extensive re-esterification of the oleate released by lipolysis.

A 13C nuclear magnetic resonance study of free fatty acid incorporation in acylated lipids in differentiating preadipocytes

To understand the role of free fatty acid (FFA) incorporation in the accumulation of lipids in the adipocyte and ultimately in the development of obesity, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance was used to study lipid metabolism in differentiating preadipocytes. The incorporation of 13C=O-labeled FFA into cellular lipids in primary cultured rat preadipocytes and 3T3L1 preadipocytes at different stages of differentiation was monitored by the 13C carbonyl chemical shift. Significant incorporation of palmitic acid into phosphatidylcholine in both the alpha and beta acyl chain positions was found in cells at early stages of differentiation. At later differentiation stages or after extended incubation periods, most of the 13C=O signals were found in the triacylglycerol (TG) molecules. Unsaturated 13C=O-labeled acyl chains were detected in the TG molecules when cells were incubated with saturated 13C=O-labeled FFA, indicating that intracellular dehydrogenation had occurred in the 13C=O-labeled palmitoyl chain. By using 13C-labeled methyl myristate as an internal intensity reference, incorporation of 13C FFA into each acyl chain position of the major intracellular lipids was determined quantitatively.

Dietary (n-3) and (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids rapidly modify fatty acid composition and insulin effects in rat adipocytes

The influence of dietary (n-3) compared with (n-6) polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFA) on the lipid composition and metabolism of adipocytes was evaluated in rats over a period of 1 week. Isocaloric diets comprised 16.3 g/100 g protein, 53.8 g/100 g carbohydrate and 21.4 g/100 g lipids, the latter containing either (n-3) PUFA (32.4 mol/100 mol) or (n-6) PUFA (37.8 mol/100 mol) but having identical contents of saturated, monounsaturated and total unsaturated fatty acids and identical polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratios and double bond indexes. Despite comparable food intake, significantly smaller body weight increments and adipocyte size were observed in rats of the (n-3) diet group after feeding for 1 wk. Rats fed the (n-3) diet also had significantly lower concentrations of serum triglycerides, cholesterol and insulin compared with those fed the (n-6) diet, although levels of serum glucose and free fatty acids did not differ in the two dietary groups. In the (n-6) diet group, the (n-6) and (n-3) PUFA contents of plasma triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids were 30-60% higher and 60-80% lower, respectively, than in the (n-3) diet group, whereas adipocyte plasma membrane phospholipids showed a significantly higher unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio and greater fluidity. Glycerol release in response to noradrenaline was significantly higher in the adipocytes of rats fed the (n-3) diet, whereas the antilipolytic effect of insulin generally did not differ in the two groups. Finally, insulin stimulated the transport of glucose and its incorporation into fatty acids to a lesser extent in adipocytes of (n-3) diet fed rats compared with (n-6) diet fed rats. This reduction in the metabolic effects of insulin in rats fed a (n-3) diet for 1 wk could be related to smaller numbers and a lower binding capacity of the insulin receptors on adipocytes and/or to a lesser degree of phosphorylation of the 95 kDa beta subunit of the receptor. In conclusion, dietary intake for 1 wk of (n-3) rather than (n-6) PUFA is sufficient to induce significant differences in the lipid composition and metabolic responses to insulin of rat adipocytes.

Adipose hormone-sensitive lipase preferentially releases polyunsaturated fatty acids from triglycerides

Rat adipose hormone-sensitive lipase-mediated release of fatty acids from triglycerides was studied in three model systems: i) cultured preadipocytes containing polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched triglyceride; ii) perfused epididymal fat pads; and iii) in vitro incubations of crude preparations of hormone-sensitive lipase with synthetic triglyceride-analogues as substrates. We found that cultured preadipocytes challenged with 10 microM norepinephrine tended to release more omega 6 and omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids than saturated fatty acids. Fat pads perfused with 10 microM norepinephrine preferentially released arachidonate and alpha-linolenate but tended to retain oleate and linoleate. Finally, crude preparations of hormone-sensitive lipase released from the triglyceride-analogue substrates alpha-linolenate twice as fast as oleate. We conclude that rat adipose hormone-sensitive lipase preferentially releases polyunsaturated fatty acids from triglycerides. We suggest that this may be a mechanism by which these fatty acids are kept from being trapped in fat depots and maintained in the circulation.