Key lipogenic gene expression can be decreased by estrogen in human adipose tissue.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the molecular mechanisms by which estrogens reduce adipose tissue mass, with particular focus on genes involved in lipogenesis.


METHODS
This study involves one arm of an open randomized clinical study with parallel group comparison.


METHODS
Women's health clinical research unit at a university hospital and a university research laboratory.


METHODS
Samples from ten naturally postmenopausal women are included in the study.


METHODS
The participants were studied before and after 3 months of treatment with estradiol valerate (2 mg daily).


METHODS
Affymetrix gene chips were used to study changes in gene expression upon estrogen treatment in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue.


RESULTS
Genes involved in fatty acid synthesis, such as stearoyl-CoA desaturase, fatty acid synthase, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha, and fatty acid desaturase 1 were decreased by estrogen treatment in a subgroup of women. Changes in the expression of these genes were correlated to changes in plasma triglyceride levels. Another gene decreased by estrogen treatment was peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG).


CONCLUSIONS
Key lipogenic genes and the important adipogenic gene PPARG can be regulated by estrogen in human abdominal adipose tissue, which could be relevant for increased adiposity following menopause.
Lundholm
Lovisa
L
Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. lovisa.lundholm@biosci.ki.se
Zang
Hong
H
Hirschberg
Angelica Lindén
AL
Gustafsson
Jan-Ake
JA
Arner
Peter
P
Dahlman-Wright
Karin
K
D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase / Q000235:genetics; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics; D054890:Fatty Acid Synthase, Type I / Q000235:genetics; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000235:genetics; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D004967:Estrogens; D005227:Fatty Acids; D047495:PPAR gamma; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014280:Triglycerides; D004958:Estradiol; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C523776:SCD1 protein, human; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; C518729:FASN protein, human; D054890:Fatty Acid Synthase, Type I; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases; C023747:acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase