title: CD36 regulates fatty acid composition and sensitivity to insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
abstract: In the current study, we tested a hypothesis that CD36 fatty acid (FA) transporter might affect insulin sensitivity by indirect effects on FA composition of adipose tissue. We examined the effects of CD36 downregulation by RNA interference in 3T3-L1 adipocytes on FA transport and composition and on sensitivity to insulin action. Transfected 3T3-L1 adipocytes, without detectable CD36 protein, showed reduced neutral lipid levels and significant differences in FA composition when levels of essential FA and their metabolites were lower or could not be detected including gamma linolenic (C18:3 n6), eicosadienic (C20:2 n6), dihomo-gamma linolenic (C20:3 n6), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) (C20:5 n3), docosapentaenoic (DPA) (C22:5 n3), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) (C22:6 n3) FA. Transfected 3T3-L1 adipocytes exhibited a significantly higher n6/n3 FA ratio, reduced 5-desaturase and higher 9-desaturase activities. These lipid profiles were associated with a significantly reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (4.02+/-0.1 vs. 8.42+/-0.26 pmol.10(-3) cells, P=0.001). These findings provide evidence that CD36 regulates FA composition thereby affecting sensitivity to insulin action in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontrová
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zídková
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bartos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Skop
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sajdok
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kazdová
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mikulík
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mlejnek
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zídek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pravenec
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection