Impaired subcutaneous adipocyte lipogenesis is associated with systemic insulin resistance and increased apolipoprotein B/AI ratio in men and women.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association between subcutaneous fat cell lipogenesis and components of the metabolic syndrome (systemic insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension).


METHODS
A university hospital-based cross-sectional study of 383 subjects (303 women and 80 men) with a wide range of BMI (18-53 kg m(-2)).


RESULTS
Strong negative correlations between in vitro fat cell lipogenesis (basal and after maximal insulin stimulation) and HOMA-IR were present in both genders (r = -0.42 to -0.56, P < 0.0001 and r = -0.37 to -0.44, P < 0.001, for women and men respectively). Insulin sensitivity measured using the insulin tolerance test (K(ITT)) was also correlated with adipocyte lipogenesis (r = 0.47-0.57, P < 0.0001, women, r = 0.52-0.70, P < 0.001, men). Plasma apolipoprotein B/AI-ratio negatively associated with fat cell lipogenesis in women (r = -0.41 to-0.51, P < 0.0001,) and men (r = -0.49 to -0.55, P < 0.0001). The negative relationship of fat cell lipogenesis with blood pressure was significant in women (r = -0.27 to -0.28, P < 0.0002,) but not in men (P = 0.08-0.09). All correlations remained significant after adjusting for differences in fat cell volume, body mass index, waist- to hip- ratio or age (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Subcutaneous adipocyte lipogenesis is negatively associated with systemic insulin resistance, plasma apolipoprotein B/AI-ratio and blood pressure supporting the view that impaired fat cell function per se may contribute to the development of the metabolic syndrome.
Hoffstedt
J
J
Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Förster
D
D
Löfgren
P
P
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose