title: Ceramide content is higher in type I compared to type II fibers in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: This study investigated fiber-type-specific muscle ceramide content in obese subjects and type 2 diabetes patients. Two substudies, one which compared type 2 diabetes patients to both lean- and obese BMI-matched subjects and the other study which compared lean body-matched post-obese, obese, and control subjects, were performed. A fasting blood sample was obtained and plasma insulin and glucose determined. A muscle biopsy was obtained from deltoideus and vastus lateralis, and fiber-type ceramide content was determined by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Insulin sensitivity estimated by Quicki index was higher in lean compared to type 2 diabetes patients and obese controls. Also in control and post-obese subjects, a higher insulin sensitivity was observed compared to obese subjects. Ceramide content was consistently higher in type I than in type II muscle fibers and higher in deltoideus than vastus lateralis across all groups. No significant differences between groups were observed in ceramide content in either of the two substudies. In human skeletal muscle, ceramide content was higher in type I than in type II fibers in patients with type 2 diabetes and in obese subjects, but overall ceramide muscle fiber content was not different compared to controls.
authors.affiliation: Center of Healthy Aging, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ditte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prats
authors.forename: Steen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ara
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dela
authors.forename: Jørn W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Helge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000378:metabolism*; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides