title: Molecular mechanisms of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in the AGPAT2-deficient mouse model of congenital generalized lipodystrophy.
abstract: Mutations in 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate-O-acyltransferase 2 (AGPAT2) cause congenital generalized lipodystrophy. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic complications associated with AGPAT2 deficiency, Agpat2 null mice were generated. Agpat2(-/-) mice develop severe lipodystrophy affecting both white and brown adipose tissue, extreme insulin resistance, diabetes, and hepatic steatosis. The expression of lipogenic genes and rates of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis were increased approximately 4-fold in Agpat2(-/-) mouse livers. The mRNA and protein levels of monoacylglycerol acyltransferase isoform 1 were markedly increased in the livers of Agpat2(-/-) mice, suggesting that the alternative monoacylglycerol pathway for triglyceride biosynthesis is activated in the absence of AGPAT2. Feeding a fat-free diet reduced liver triglycerides by approximately 50% in Agpat2(-/-) mice. These observations suggest that both dietary fat and hepatic triglyceride biosynthesis via a monoacylglycerol pathway may contribute to hepatic steatosis in Agpat2(-/-) mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
authors.forename: Víctor A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Suja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sukumaran
authors.forename: Xinli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parameswara
authors.forename: Shirya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jimin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Jay D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: Abhimanyu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D051103:1-Acylglycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D052497:Lipodystrophy, Congenital Generalized / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D023421:Models, Animal; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D051103:1-Acylglycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase