title: Expression of the mRNA coding for 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in adipose tissue from obese patients: an in situ hybridization study.
abstract: Glucocorticoids play an important role in determining adipose tissue metabolism and distribution. Patients with Cushing's syndrome or receiving corticosteroid therapy develop a reversible visceral obesity. In obese patients, although circulating concentrations of cortisol are not consistently elevated, local conversion of inactive cortisone to active cortisol in adipose tissue, catalyzed by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD-1), could amplify glucocorticoid signaling. We have studied, using semiquantitative in situ hybridization, 11beta-HSD-1 mRNA expression in the adipocyte and stromal compartments of sc abdominal adipose tissue obtained from 12 lean patients and sc abdominal and visceral adipose tissue obtained from 18 obese patients. 11beta-HSD-1 mRNA was expressed in adipocytes, stroma, and walls of vessels. Localization of 11beta-HSD-1 mRNA did not differ between lean sc and obese sc or visceral adipose tissue. 11beta-HSD-1 mRNA levels were significantly (P = 0.0106) increased in the adipocyte compartment of sc adipose tissue obtained from obese patients as compared with nonobese ones, whereas no significant change (P = 0.446) was found in the stromal compartment. In obese patients, 11beta-HSD-1 mRNA expression was increased (P = 0.0157) in the stromal compartment of visceral compared with sc tissue, whereas no significant change (P = 0.8767) was found in the adipocyte compartment. In summary, our data show that 11beta-HSD-1 mRNA is increased in adipose tissue from obese patients, in the abdominal sc fat in adipocytes and in the visceral fat in both adipocytes and stroma. This observation suggests that an overexpression of 11beta-HSD-1 may explain part of the glucocorticoid-induced metabolic disorders linked to obesity and may promote visceral fat deposition.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neuroendocrinologie Expérimentale, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U501, UFR de Médecine secteur Nord, boulevard Pierre Dramard, 13916 Marseille cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Paulmyer-Lacroix
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boullu
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alessi
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grino
mesh_terms: D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2; C468387:HSD11B2 protein, human