title: Free fatty acid storage in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue: role of adipocyte proteins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because direct adipose tissue free fatty acid (FFA) storage may contribute to body fat distribution, we measured FFA (palmitate) storage rates and fatty acid (FA) storage enzymes/proteins in omental and abdominal subcutaneous fat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elective surgery patients received a bolus of [1-(14)C]palmitate followed by omental and abdominal subcutaneous fat biopsies to measure direct FFA storage. Long chain acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase activities, CD36, fatty acid-binding protein, and fatty acid transport protein 1 were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Palmitate tracer storage (dpm/g adipose lipid) and calculated palmitate storage rates were greater in omental than abdominal subcutaneous fat in women (1.2 ± 0.8 vs. 0.7 ± 0.4 μmol · kg adipose lipid(-1) · min(-1), P = 0.005) and men (0.7 ± 0.2 vs. 0.2 ± 0.1, P < 0.001), and both were greater in women than men (P < 0.0001). Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue palmitate storage rates correlated with ACS activity (women: r = 0.66, P = 0.001; men: r = 0.70, P = 0.007); in men, CD36 was also independently related to palmitate storage rates. The content/activity of FA storage enzymes/proteins in omental fat was dramatically lower in those with more visceral fat. In women, only omental palmitate storage rates were correlated (r = 0.54, P = 0.03) with ACS activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some adipocyte FA storage factors correlate with direct FFA storage, but sex differences in this process in visceral fat do not account for sex differences in visceral fatness. The reduced storage proteins in those with greater visceral fat suggest that the storage factors we measured are not a predominant cause of visceral adipose tissue accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Asem H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koutsari
authors.forename: Manpreet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mundi
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stegall
authors.forename: Julie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Heimbach
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Taler
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nygren
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thorell
authors.forename: Lindsey D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Bogachus
authors.forename: Lorraine P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernlohr
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D051048:Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018955:CD36 Antigens; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; C493568:SLC27A1 protein, human; D051048:Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases