Skeletal muscle fatty acid transporter protein expression in type 2 diabetes patients compared with overweight, sedentary men and age-matched, endurance-trained cyclists.
OBJECTIVE
Membrane fatty acid transporters can modulate the balance between fatty acid uptake and subsequent storage and/or oxidation in muscle tissue. As such, skeletal muscle fatty acid transporter protein expression could play an important role in the etiology of insulin resistance and/or type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
In the present study, fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), plasma membrane-bound fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm) and fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1) mRNA and protein expression were assessed in muscle tissue obtained from 10 sedentary, overweight type 2 diabetes patients (60 +/- 2 years), 10 sedentary, weight-matched normoglycemic controls (60 +/- 2 years) and 10 age-matched, endurance trained cyclists (57 +/- 1 years).


RESULTS
Both FAT/CD36 and FATP1 mRNA and protein expression did not differ between groups. In contrast, FABPpm mRNA and protein expression were approx. 30-40% higher in the trained men compared with the diabetes patients (P < 0.01) and sedentary controls (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Skeletal muscle FAT/CD36, FABPpm and FATP1 mRNA and protein expression are not up- or downregulated in a sedentary and/or insulin resistant state. In contrast, FABPpm expression is upregulated in the endurance trained state and likely instrumental to allow greater fatty acid oxidation rates.
Pelsers
M M A L
MM
Department of Movement Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. maurice.pelsers@bw.unimaas.nl
Tsintzas
K
K
Boon
H
H
Jewell
K
K
Norton
L
L
Luiken
J J F P
JJ
Glatz
J F C
JF
van Loon
L J C
LJ
D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D050177:Overweight / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*
D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins