title: Intracellular pH in adipocytes: effects of free fatty acid diffusion across the plasma membrane, lipolytic agonists, and insulin.
abstract: The main function of white adipose tissue is to store nutrient energy in the form of triglycerides. The mechanism by which free fatty acids (FFA) move into and out of the adipocyte has not been resolved. We show here that changes in intracellular pH (pH1) in adipocytes correlate with the movement of FFA across cellular membranes as predicted by the Kamp and Hamilton model of passive diffusion of FFA. Exposure of fat cells to lipolytic agents or external FFA results is a rapid intracellular acidification that is reversed by metabolism of the FFA or its removal by albumin. In contrast, insulin causes an alkalinization of the cell, consistent with its main function to promote esterification. Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange in adipocytes does not prevent the changes in pHi caused by FFA, lipolytic agents, or insulin. A fatty acid dimer, which diffuses into the cell but is not metabolized, causes an irreversible acidification. Taken together, the data suggest that changes in pHi occur in adipocytes in response to the passive diffusion of un-ionized FFA (flip-flop) into and out of the cell and in response to their metabolism and production within the cell. These changes in pHi may, in turn, modulate hormonal signaling and metabolism with significant impact on cell function.
authors.affiliation: Evans Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Civelek
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tornheim
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Corkey
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000584:Amiloride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004058:Diffusion; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007328:Insulin; D005576:Colforsin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D000584:Amiloride; C043829:2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein; D012964:Sodium; D007545:Isoproterenol; C039614:ethylisopropylamiloride; D009638:Norepinephrine