Role of DHEA-S on body fat distribution: gender- and depot-specific stimulation of adipose tissue lipolysis.
The objective of this work was to study the possible impact of DHEA-S on body fat distribution and the specific action of the hormone on lipolysis from visceral and subcutaneous human adipose tissue. First, a clinical evaluation was performed in 84 obese patients (29 men, 55 women), measuring serum DHEA-S, computed tomography (CT) anthropometric parameters of abdominal fat distribution. In a second experiment, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue samples were obtained from 20 obese patients (10 men, 10 women) and cultured in vitro under stimulation with DHEA-S to further assess a possible effect of this hormone on adipose tissue lipolysis. Serum DHEA-S was inversely and specifically associated with visceral fat area (VA) as assessed by CT in men and with waist-to-hip ratio in women. In vitro, DHEA-S increased lipolysis in women's subcutaneous adipose tissue at 2 h, while in men, the effect was evident in visceral tissue and after 24 h of treatment. In conclusion, DHEA-S contributes to gender-related differences in body fat distribution probably by a differential lipolytic action. We have demonstrated for the first time in vitro that DHEA-S stimulates lipolysis preferably in subcutaneous fat in women and in visceral fat in men.
Hernández-Morante
Juan J
JJ
Department of Physiology, University of Murcia, and Surgery Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Spain.
Pérez-de-Heredia
Fátima
F
Luján
Juan A
JA
Zamora
Salvador
S
Garaulet
Marta
M
D050153:Abdominal Fat; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008066:Lipolysis; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D012737:Sex Factors; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate