title: Homocysteine suppresses lipolysis in adipocytes by activating the AMPK pathway.
abstract: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. Emerging evidence suggests that HHcy is also associated with adipocyte tissue dysfunction. One of the principal functions of adipose tissue is to provide energy substrate via lipolysis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of homocysteine (Hcy) on lipolysis in adipocytes. We found that Hcy inhibited release of glycerol and fatty acids, two typical indicators of the lipolytic response, in primary adipocytes and fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner under both basal and isoproterenol-stimulated conditions. In differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, decreased glycerol and free fatty acid (FFA) release was associated with elevation of intracellular TG content. Further studies showed that Hcy-mediated antilipolytic responses were independent of the cyclic AMP-PKA and MEK-ERK1/2 pathways. However, Hcy increased phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, abolished Hcy-induced reduction of glycerol and FFA release under both basal and isoproterenol-stimulated conditions. Furthermore, AMPKα1 siRNA reversed Hcy-inhibited glycerol release. Supplementation of exogenous Hcy in the diet for 2 wk lowered circulating glycerol and FFA levels. Moreover, Hcy supplementation was associated with elevated leptin levels and reduced adiponectin levels in plasma. These results show that Hcy inhibits lipolysis through a pathway that involves AMPK activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pini
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Zhanxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Changhao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Giamila
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fantuzzi
authors.forename: Zhenyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000263:Adenylate Kinase; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase