Selective mobilization of fatty acids from white fat cells: evidence for a relationship to the polarity of triacylglycerols

Interrelationships between maternal DHA in erythrocytes, milk and adipose tissue. Is 1 wt% DHA the optimal human milk content? Data from four Tanzanian tribes differing in lifetime stable intakes of fish

Little is known about the interrelationships between maternal and infant erythrocyte-DHA, milk-DHA and maternal adipose tissue (AT)-DHA contents. We studied these relationships in four tribes in Tanzania (Maasai, Pare, Sengerema and Ukerewe) differing in their lifetime intakes of fish. Cross-sectional samples were collected at delivery and after 3 d and 3 months of exclusive breast-feeding. We found that intra-uterine biomagnification is a sign of low maternal DHA status, that genuine biomagnification occurs during lactation, that lactating mothers with low DHA status cannot augment their infants' DHA status, and that lactating mothers lose DHA independent of their DHA status. A maternal erythrocyte-DHA content of 8 wt% was found to correspond with a mature milk-DHA content of 1·0 wt% and with subcutaneous and abdominal (omentum) AT-DHA contents of about 0·39 and 0·52 wt%, respectively. Consequently, 1 wt% DHA might be a target for Western human milk and infant formula that has milk arachidonic acid, EPA and linoleic acid contents of 0·55, 0·22 and 9·32 wt%, respectively. With increasing DHA status, the erythrocyte-DHA content reaches a plateau of about 9 wt%, and it plateaus more readily than milk-DHA and AT-DHA contents. Compared with the average Tanzanian-Ukerewe woman, the average US woman has four times lower AT-DHA content (0·4 v. 0·1 wt%) and five times lower mature milk-DHA output (301 v. 60 mg/d), which contrasts with her estimated 1·8-2·6 times lower mobilisable AT-DHA content (19 v. 35-50 g).

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) deficiencies affect expression of lipolytic activities in mouse adipose tissues

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) are key enzymes involved in intracellular degradation of triacylglycerols. It was the aim of this study to elucidate how the deficiency in one of these proteins affects the residual lipolytic proteome in adipose tissue. For this purpose, we compared the lipase patterns of brown and white adipose tissue from ATGL (-/-) and HSL (-/-) mice using differential activity-based gel electrophoresis. This method is based on activity-recognition probes possessing the same substrate analogous structure but carrying different fluorophores for specific detection of the enzyme patterns of two different tissues in one electrophoresis gel. We found that ATGL-deficiency in brown adipose tissue had a profound effect on the expression levels of other lipolytic and esterolytic enzymes in this tissue, whereas HSL-deficiency hardly showed any effect in brown adipose tissue. Neither ATGL- nor HSL-deficiency greatly influenced the lipase patterns in white adipose tissue. Enzyme activities of mouse tissues on acylglycerol substrates were analyzed as well, showing that ATGL-and HSL-deficiencies can be compensated for at least in part by other enzymes. The proteins that responded to ATGL-deficiency in brown adipose tissue were overexpressed and their activities on acylglycerols were analyzed. Among these enzymes, Es1, Es10, and Es31-like represent lipase candidates as they catalyze the hydrolysis of long-chain acylglycerols.

Triacylglyceride measurement in small quantities of homogenised insect tissue: comparisons and caveats

Triacylglycerides (TAGs) are the most important stored energy reserve in eukaryotes and are regularly measured in insects. Quantitative analysis of TAGs is complicated by their diversity of structure, and there are concerns with the quantitative accuracy of commonly used analytical methods. We used thin layer chromatography coupled to a flame ionisation detector (TLC-FID), an accurate method that is not sensitive to saturation or chain length of fatty acids, to quantify TAG content in small amounts of insect tissue, and used it to validate three high-throughput lipid assays (gravimetric, vanillin, and enzymatic). The performance of gravimetric assays depended on the solvent used. Folch reagent (chloroform: methanol 2:1 v/v) was a good index of TAG content, but overestimated lipid content due to the extraction of structural lipid and non-lipid components. Diethyl ether produced reasonable quantitative measurements but lacked precision and could not produce a repeatable rank-order of samples. The vanillin assay was accurate both as a quantitative method and as an index, preferably with a standard of mixed fatty acid composition. The enzymatic assay did not accurately or precisely quantify TAGs under our assay conditions. We conclude that the vanillin assay is suitable as a high-throughput method for quantifying TAG providing fatty acid composition does not change among treatment groups. However, if samples contain significant quantities of di- or mono-acylglycerides, or the fatty acid composition differs across treatment groups, TLC-FID is recommended.

Influence of different dietary fats on triacylglycerol deposition in rat adipose tissue

It has been demonstrated that triacylglycerol (TAG) mobilization from adipose tissue is selective and depends on fatty acid (FA) chain length, unsaturation and positional isomerism. The present study was performed to determine the influence of dietary fat on the composition of TAG stored in rat perirenal and subcutaneous adipose tissues. These results may provide information on the susceptibility of stored TAG to hydrolysis and further mobilization, and may help to establish an interrelationship between dietary composition and the FA efflux from adipose tissue. TAG molecular species and FA composition were determined by HPLC and GLC respectively. No significant differences were found in either FA or TAG composition between perirenal and subcutaneous adipose depots. The major FA in the dietary fats were present in the adipose tissues of the animals; in most cases, in similar proportions. However, differences were found between dietary and adipose tissue content of minor FA, which suggests that dietary FA composition is altered between ingestion and deposition in adipose tissue. The TAG molecular species of rat adipose tissue were enriched with the FA characteristic of each dietary fat. Dietary sunflower oil was responsible for enrichment with the most polar TAG. This finding may suggest easier mobilization of stored TAG. In conclusion, the process of fatty acid and TAG deposition in rat adipose tissue is selective, and depends on the composition of the diet.

Medium-chain Fatty acids attenuate agonist-stimulated lipolysis, mimicking the effects of starvation

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that incorporation of medium-chain fatty acids (FAs) into adipocyte triglycerides alters intracellular lipolysis.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

3T3-L1 adipocytes were pretreated with octanoate for various incubation periods. After the removal of exogenous FAs, cells were incubated with different lipolytic agonists. To determine the effects on lipolysis, we measured the following: the release of glycerol and FAs, lipase activity, protein levels of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), and perilipin A; translocation of HSL; phosphorylation of perilipin A; and levels of cellular adenosine triphosphate, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and H2O2. To compare the effects of starvation with those caused by octanoate pretreatment, we measured glycerol release and H2O2 generation in rat adipocytes of starved donors.

RESULTS

Pretreatment of adipocytes with octanoate in vitro increased basal lipolysis but decreased the cellular response for agonists. The same effects were seen in starvation in vivo. Preincubation with octanoate for 48 hours did not affect basal lipase activity, HSL, and perilipin protein levels, but it reduced agonist-stimulated perilipin phosphorylation and HSL translocation toward fat droplets. This was associated with a reduction in basal cellular adenosine triphosphate levels and agonist-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate generation. Starvation and octanoate pretreatment both increased intracellular H2O2 concentrations, which might also contribute to the inhibition on agonist-stimulated lipolysis.

DISCUSSION

Pretreatment with octanoate seems to induce changes in adipocyte lipolysis in a pattern mimicking the effects of starvation. Such changes could contribute, in part, to weight loss in animals and humans associated with dietary medium-chain FAs.

What does the measurement of whole-body fatty acid rate of appearance in plasma by using a fatty acid tracer really mean?

We evaluated the validity of using a single fatty acid tracer to assess total plasma long-chain free fatty acid (FFA) kinetics and the relationship between the rate of appearance (R(a)) of fatty acids in plasma and the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue triglyceride (TG). A mixture of [(13)C]-labeled myristate, palmitate, stearate, oleate, and linoleate was infused in healthy men during basal conditions and during conditions that stimulate (epinephrine infusion) and inhibit (insulin infusion) lipolysis of adipose tissue TGs. Calculated total FFA, R(a) based on palmitate, oleate, or linoleate tracers, was within 15% of the measured sum of the individual fatty acid R(a) under all conditions, whereas stearate and myristate tracers consistently underestimated and overestimated total FFA R(a), respectively. The fatty acid R(a) profile closely matched the fatty acid profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue TGs during epinephrine infusion, but not during basal conditions and insulin infusion. Our data support the common practice of using labeled palmitate or oleate as fatty acid tracers for assessing total plasma FFA kinetics and suggest that a source of lipids other than adipose tissue TG release fatty acids into the systemic circulation.

Selective mobilization of fatty acids from adipose tissue triacylglycerols

Adipose tissue triacylglycerols represent the main storage of a wide spectrum of fatty acids differing by molecular structure. The release of individual fatty acids from adipose tissue is selective according to carbon chain length and unsaturation degree in vitro and in vivo in animal studies and also in humans. The mechanism of selective fatty acid mobilization from white fat cells is not known. Lipolysis is widely reported to work at a lipid-water interface where only small amounts of substrate are available. A preferential hydrolysis of a small triacylglycerol fraction enriched in certain triacylglycerol molecular species at the lipid-water interface and enzymological properties of hormone-sensitive lipase could explain the selective mobilization of fatty acids from fat cells. This selectivity could affect the individual fatty acid supply to tissues.

Letting lipids go: hormone-sensitive lipase

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Despite their pathophysiological importance, the molecular mechanisms and enzymatic components of lipid mobilization from intracellular storage compartments are insufficiently understood. The aim of this review is to evaluate the role of hormone-sensitive lipase in this process.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hormone-sensitive lipase exhibits a broad specificity for lipid substrates such as triglycerides, diglycerides, cholesteryl esters, and retinyl esters and the enzyme is in a wide variety of tissues. The high enzyme activity in adipose tissue was considered rate-limiting in the degradation of stored triglycerides. This view of a single enzyme controlling the catabolism of stored fat was challenged by recent findings that in hormone-sensitive lipase deficient mice adipose tissue triglycerides were still hydrolyzed and that these animals were leaner than normal mice. These results indicated that in adipose tissue hormone-sensitive lipase cooperates with other yet unidentified lipases to control the mobilization of fatty acids from cellular depots and that this process is coordinately regulated with lipid synthesis. Induced mutant mouse lines that overexpress or lack hormone-sensitive lipase also provided evidence that hormone-sensitive lipase-mediated cholesteryl ester hydrolysis is involved in steroid-hormone production in adrenals and affects testis function. Finally, hormone-sensitive lipase deficiency in mice results in a lipoprotein profile characterized by low triglyceride and VLDL levels and increased HDL cholesterol concentrations.

SUMMARY

The 'anti-atherosclerotic' plasma lipoprotein profile and the fact that hormone-sensitive lipase deficient animals become lean identifies the inhibition of hormone-sensitive lipase as a potential target for the treatment of lipid disorders and obesity.

Stereospecific incorporation of palmitoyl, oleoyl and linoleoyl moieties into adipose tissue triacylglycerols of rats results in constant sn-1:sn-2:sn-3 in rats fed rapeseed, olive, conventional or high oleic sunflower oils, but not in those fed coriander oil

We report the stereospecific (sn-1, sn-2, sn-3) distribution of fatty acids in subcutaneous adipose tissue triacylglycerols of male weaned Wistar rats fed either a standard diet or diets containing, in addition to 20 g corn oil/kg feed, 120 g/kg feed, each, of canola-type rapeseed oil, olive oil, conventional or high oleic sunflower oil or high petroselinic coriander oil for 10 wk. The regiospecific distribution of the major acyl moieties in the sn-1 (3) vs. sn-2 positions of the adipose tissue triacylglycerols broadly reflected that of the dietary oils. The saturated palmitoyl and stearoyl moieties were more abundant in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions compared with the sn-2 position of the adipose tissue triacylglycerols, and both occurred at a higher proportion in the sn-1 than in the sn-3 position. Oleoyl moieties were abundant in all the three positions of the adipose tissue triacylglycerols, whereas petroselinoyl moieties were more abundant in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions compared with the sn-2 position. Linoleoyl moieties occurred predominantly in the sn-2 position compared with the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of the adipose tissue triacylglycerols; however, they were more abundant in the sn-3 than in the sn-1 position. Despite widely varying proportions of the palmitoyl, oleoyl and linoleoyl moieties at the three positions of the dietary triacylglycerols, the ratios of each of these acyl moieties at the sn-1, sn-2, and sn-3 positions in adipose tissue triacylglycerols were essentially constant for all groups, with the exception of the group fed coriander oil, indicating a rigid stereospecific incorporation.

Triacylglycerol molecular weight and to a lesser extent, fatty acid positional distribution, affect chylomicron triacylglycerol composition in women

Postprandial composition of chylomicron triacylglycerols (TAG) and their clearance may be affected by the molecular weight of TAG, their fatty acid (FA) combinations and the positional distribution of FA in TAG. Delayed postprandial TAG clearance is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, due to the complexity of traditional analysis methods, the composition of individual TAG molecules is frequently overlooked. In this study, chylomicron TAG molecular weight distribution and regioisomerism were followed in 10 healthy female volunteers after two fat loads with identical FA composition but different positional distributions (palm oil and transesterified palm oil). An efficient tandem mass spectrometric method of analysis was applied. During the 6-h observation period, the relative concentrations of TAG with 48:2 [48 acyl carbons and 2 double bonds (ACN:DB)], 50:3 and 50:2 decreased, whereas the proportions of 48:0 (tripalmitin), 52:3 and 54:4 remained constant and the proportion of 54:3 (triolein) increased (P < 0.05). The existence of seven regioisomers containing palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids in different sn-positions was studied. The amount of 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol was less (P < 0.05) 1.5 h postprandially than at 2-5 h after palm oil, and less (P < 0.05) at 1.5 h than at 2-6 h after transesterified palm oil. This may be an indication of a loss of palmitic acid in the gut. Taken together, TAG molecular weight composition and to a lesser extent, positional distribution, seem to affect the rates of chylomicron TAG clearance in humans.

The composition of the major molecular species of adipose tissue triacylglycerols of rats reflects those of dietary rapeseed, olive and sunflower oils

We report the composition of constituent fatty acids and molecular species of adipose tissue triacylglycerols of male weaned Wistar rats fed diets containing, in addition to 20 g corn oil/kg feed, 120 g per kg feed canola-type rapeseed oil, olive oil or conventional sunflower oil for 10 wk. The composition of fatty acids and molecular species of the triacylglycerols of subcutaneous, epididymal and perirenal adipose tissues did not differ among groups (P > 0.01), broadly reflecting the corresponding compositions of the dietary oils. The major molecular species of dietary triacylglycerols, especially trioleoylglycerol (OOO) and linoleoyl-dioleoylglycerols (LOO) in the rapeseed oil and olive oil diets, dioleoyl-palmitoylglycerols (OOP) in the olive oil diet, dilinoleoyl-oleoylglycerols (LLO) in the rapeseed oil and sunflower oil diets, and dilinoleoyl-palmitoylglycerols (LLP), linoleoyl-oleoyl-palmitoylglycerols (LOP) as well as trilinoleoylglycerol (LLL) in the sunflower oil diet were also prominent constituents of the corresponding adipose tissue triacylglycerols. On the other hand, predominant molecular species containing alpha-linolenoyl (Ln) moieties, e.g., alpha-linolenoyl-linoleoyl-oleoylglycerols (LnLO) and alpha -linolenoyl-dioleoylglycerols (LnOO) from the rapeseed oil diet were not prominent constituents of rat adipose tissue triacylglycerols, whereas LOP from rapeseed oil and olive oil diets and OOP from rapeseed oil and sunflower oil diets were distinctly enriched in the corresponding adipose tissues. Most of the minor molecular species of the dietary triacylglycerols from all the three diets were distinctly present in the corresponding adipose tissues. Thus, despite numerous biochemical processes involved in the metabolism of dietary triacylglycerols, a substantial proportion of the molecular species of adipose tissue triacylglycerols containing linoleoyl (L), oleoyl (O) and palmitoyl (P) moieties resemble those of dietary triacylglycerols.

Hormone-sensitive lipase deficiency in mice causes diglyceride accumulation in adipose tissue, muscle, and testis

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is expressed predominantly in white and brown adipose tissue where it is believed to play a crucial role in the lipolysis of stored triglycerides (TG), thereby providing the body with energy substrate in the form of free fatty acids (FFA). From in vitro assays, HSL is known to hydrolyze TG, diglycerides (DG), cholesteryl esters, and retinyl esters. In the current study we have generated HSL knock-out mice and demonstrate three lines of evidence that HSL is instrumental in the catabolism of DG in vivo. First, HSL deficiency in mice causes the accumulation of DG in white adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and testis. Second, when tissue extracts were used in an in vitro lipase assay, a reduced FFA release and the accumulation of DG was observed in HSL knock-out mice which did not occur when tissue extracts from control mice were used. Third, in vitro lipolysis experiments with HSL-deficient fat pads demonstrated that the isoproterenol-stimulated release of FFA was decreased and DG accumulated intracellularly resulting in the essential absence of the isoproterenol-stimulated glycerol formation typically observed in control fat pads. Additionally, the absence of HSL in white adipose tissue caused a shift of the fatty acid composition of the TG moiety toward increased long chain fatty acids implying a substrate specificity of the enzyme in vivo. From these in vivo results we conclude that HSL is the rate-limiting enzyme for the cellular catabolism of DG in adipose tissue and muscle.

A role for hormone-sensitive lipase in the selective mobilization of adipose tissue fatty acids

The mobilization of fatty acids from rat and human fat cells is selective according to molecular structure, and notably carbon atom chain length. This study aimed at examining whether the release of individual fatty acids from triacylglycerols (TAG) by hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) plays a role in the selectivity of fatty acid mobilization. Recombinant rat and human HSL were incubated with a lipid emulsion. The hydrolysis of 18 individual fatty acids, ranging in chain length from 12 to 24 carbon atoms and in unsaturation degree from 0 to 3 double bond(s), was measured by comparing the composition of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) to that of the original TAG. The relative hydrolysis (% in NEFA/% in TAG) differed between fatty acids, being about 5-fold and 3-fold higher for the most (18:1n-7) than for the least (24:0) readily released fatty acid by recombinant rat and human HSL, respectively. Relationships were found between the chain length of fatty acids and their relative hydrolysis. Among 12-24 carbon atom saturated fatty acids, the relative hydrolysis markedly decreased (by about 5- and 3-times for recombinant rat and human HSL, respectively) with increasing chain length. We conclude that fatty acids are selectively released from TAG by HSL according to carbon atom chain length. These data provide insight on the mechanism by which fatty acids are selectively mobilized from fat cells.

Net release of individual fatty acids from white adipose tissue during lipolysis in vitro: evidence for selective fatty acid re-uptake

During lipolysis, adipose tissue triacylglycerols (TAG) undergo concurrent breakdown and synthesis because some of the newly hydrolysed and released non-esterified ('free') fatty acids (NEFA) can subsequently be taken up and re-esterified. The present study examines whether and how the release of individual fatty acids is affected by the re-uptake of some of the newly hydrolysed fatty acids in vitro during lipolysis. To alter fatty acid release and re-uptake, adipose tissue fragments and isolated adipocytes from rats were incubated under various conditions, i.e. several cell concentrations or adipose fragment quantities, with or without glucose. In the various conditions tested, the NEFA/glycerol molar ratio ranged from 1.5 to 2.9. Whatever the incubation conditions, including those resulting in very low, medium or high fatty acid re-uptake (as assessed by the NEFA/glycerol ratio), the percentage weight of fatty acids in NEFA was significantly different from that in TAG for 20-24 of the 35 fatty acids that were considered. Thus the greater the fatty acid re-uptake, the higher the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the lower the proportion of long-chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in NEFA. Moreover, the relative mobilization (%NEFA/%TAG) of the least readily mobilized fatty acid (C(22:1,n-11)) was 6.2-fold lower than that of the most readily mobilized fatty acid (C(20:5,n-3)) under conditions of very low fatty acid re-uptake, and 14.8-fold lower under conditions of high fatty acid re-uptake, indicating a widening of the range of relative mobilizations. We conclude that the composition of the NEFA pool is affected by the rate of fatty acid re-uptake. This provides strong evidence for the selective re-uptake of adipose tissue fatty acids during lipolysis.

Postprandial triacylglycerols from dietary virgin olive oil are selectively cleared in humans

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effect of a meal rich in virgin olive oil on triacylglycerol composition of human postprandial triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (fraction Sf > 400), and to assess the role of the triacylglycerol molecular species concentration and polarity on lipoprotein clearance. Fasting (0 h) and postprandial blood samples were collected hourly for 7 h from eight healthy normolipidemic subjects after the ingestion of the meal. Plasma and lipoprotein triacylglycerol concentrations increased quickly over fasting values and peaked twice at 2 and 6 h during the 7-h postprandial period. The triacylglycerols in the lipoprotein fraction at 2 h generally reflected the composition of the olive oil, however, the proportions of the individualmolecular species were altered by the processes leading to their formation. Among the major triacylglycerols, the proportion of triolein (OOO; 43.6%) decreased (P < 0.05), palmitoyl-dioleoyl-glycerol (POO; 31. 1%) and stearoyl-dioleoyl-glycerol (SOO; 2.1%) were maintained and linoleoyl-dioleoyl-glycerol (LOO; 11.4%) and palmitoyl-oleoyl-linoleoyl-glycerol (POL; 4.6%) significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared with the composition of the triacylglycerols in the olive oil. Smaller amounts of endogenous triacylglycerol (0.8%), mainly constituted of the saturated myristic (14:0)and palmitic (16:0) fatty acids, were also identified. Analysis of total fatty acids suggested the presence of molecular species composed of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids of the (n-3) family, docosapentaenoic acid, [22:5(n-3)] and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), [22:6(n-3)] and of the (n-6) family [arachidonic acid, [20:4(n-6)]. The fastest conversion of lipoproteins to remnants occurred from 2 to 4 h and was directly related to the concentration of the triacylglycerols in the lipoprotein particle (r = 0.9969, P < 0.05) and not with its polarity (r = 0.1769, P > 0.05). The rates of clearance were significantly different among the major triacylglycerols (OOO, POO, OOL and POL) (P < 0.05) and among the latter ones and PLL (palmitoyl-dilinoleoyl-glycerol, POS (palmitoyl-oleoyl-stearoyl-glycerol) and OLL (oleoyl-dilinoleoyl-glycerol) (P < 0.01). OOO was removed faster and was followed by POO, OOL, POL, PPO (dipalmitoyl-oleoyl-glycerol), SOO, PLL, POS and OLL.

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.

Selectivity of fatty acids on lipid metabolism and gene expression

Triacylglycerols represent the main form of storage for a wide spectrum of fatty acids. Their utilization first involves mobilization from adipose tissue through lipolysis. The release of individual fatty acids from adipose tissue is selective in vitro and in vivo in animal studies and also in human subjects. Generally, fatty acids are more readily mobilized from fat cells when they are short-chain and unsaturated. This selectivity could affect the storage of individual fatty acids in adipose tissue, and their subsequent supply to tissues. The nature of the dietary fats could affect lipid homeostasis and body fat deposition. Dietary fish oil influences adipose tissue development in a site-specific manner as a function of diet and feeding period. A diet high in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) results in a preferential partitioning of ingested energy towards oxidation at the expense of storage. Fatty acids are important mediators of gene expression in the liver. Indeed, genes encoding both glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes and key metabolic enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation are regulated by dietary PUFA. White adipose tissue could also be a target for PUFA control of gene expression. The treatment of pre-adipose cells by fatty acids induces the expression of numerous genes that encode proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism. The mechanisms of PUFA-mediated repression of gene expression in adipocytes seem to be different, at least partly, from those described in liver. Tissue-specific and site-specific factors are possibly involved in the specific effect of PUFA on gene expression, although other mechanisms cannot be excluded.

Fatty acid composition of the adipose tissue and yolk lipids of a bird with a marine-based diet, the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is an Antarctic seabird feeding mainly on fish and therefore has a high dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The yolk is accumulated in the developing oocyte while the females are fasting, and a large proportion of the fatty acid components of the yolk lipids are derived by mobilization from the female's adipose tissue. The fatty acid composition of the total lipid of the yolk was characterized by high levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, it differed in several respects from that of the maternal adipose tissue. For example, the proportions of 14:0, 16:1n-7, 20:1n-9, 22:1n-9, 20:5n-3, and 22:6n-3 were significantly greater in adipose tissue than in yolk. Thus adipose tissue lipids contained 7.6+/-0.3% and 8.0+/-0.3% (wt% of total fatty acids; mean +/- SE; n = 5) of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, respectively, whereas the yolk total lipid contained 1.6+/-0.1 and 5.5+/-0.3% of these respective fatty acids. The proportions of 16:0, 18:0, 18:1n-9, 18:2n-6, and 20:4n-6 were significantly lower in the adipose tissue than in the yolk lipids. The proportions of triacylglycerol, phospholipid, free cholesterol, and cholesteryl ester in the yolk lipid were, respectively, 67.0+/-0.2, 25.4+/-0.3, 5.3+/-0.2, and 1.8+/-0.2% (wt% of total yolk lipid). The proportions of 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, and 22:6n-3 were, respectively, 5.7+/-0.3, 2.8+/-0.2, 1.4+/-0.1, and 11.7+/-0.5% in phospholipid and 0.4+/-0.0, 1.2+/-0.1, 0.8+/-0.1 and 3.6+/-0.3% in triacylglycerol. About 95% of the total vitamin E in the yolks was in the form of alpha-tocopherol with gamma-tocopherol forming the remainder. Two species of carotenoids, one identified as lutein, were present.

Selective release of human adipocyte fatty acids according to molecular structure

The objective of the present study was to investigate the mobilization of individual fatty acids from human white fat cells. Mammary adipose tissue from eight healthy non-obese women in their normal dietary state was collected, and isolated adipocytes were incubated with lipolytic agents. The mobilization of 34 individual fatty acids was measured by comparing the composition of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) with that of the triacylglycerols (TAG) from which they originated through lipolysis. Compared with TAG, NEFA were enriched in some polyunsaturated fatty acids with 18-20 carbon atoms. Conversely, the percentage of very-long-chain (20-22 carbon atoms) saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids was approx. 2 times lower in NEFA than in TAG. The relative mobilization (% in NEFA/% in TAG) of the most readily mobilized fatty acid (C20:5, n-3; 2.25) was more than 6-fold higher than that of the least readily mobilized (C22:1,n-11; 0.37). Relationships were found between the molecular structure of fatty acids and their mobilization rate. For a given chain length, the relative mobilization rate increased with increasing unsaturation, whereas for a given unsaturation, it decreased with increasing chain length. The relative mobilization rate for essential fatty acids decreased in the following order: C20:5,n-3>C20:4,n-6>C18:3,n-3>C18:2, n-6>C22:6,n-3. Interestingly, C20:5,n-3 and C20:4,n-6, which are respectively precursors of the 3- and 2-series of prostaglandins, were preferentially mobilized. It is concluded that fatty acids are selectively mobilized from human fat cells according to molecular structure, in full agreement with animal studies. By modulating the qualitative fatty acid supply to organs and by remodelling the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue, this selectivity would be relevant for consideration in physiology, health and epidemiology.