Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Short Communication
  • Published:

Angiotensin II: a hormone that affects lipid metabolism in adipose tissue

International Journal of Obesity volume 31, pages 382–384 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

Alterations in adipose tissue lipolysis may contribute to the pathophysiology of obesity and insulin resistance. We examined the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue lipolysis in humans.

Methods and results:

First, adipocytes obtained from nine normal weight and seven obese subjects were stimulated with Ang II (10−14–10−6 M). Glycerol concentration in the medium, used as an indicator of adipocyte lipolysis, was significantly reduced (∼20%) after Ang II stimulation in adipocytes from normal weight (P=0.04) and obese subjects (P<0.001). Based on these observations, adipocytes of seven additional obese subjects were stimulated with lower doses of Ang II (10−17–10−6 M) in the presence and absence of Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockade. Lipolysis was dose dependently inhibited by ∼20 to 25% after Ang II stimulation (P=0.001). AT1 receptor blockade completely abolished the Ang II-induced effects (P=0.35).

Conclusion:

Ang II directly inhibits abdominal subcutaneous adipocyte lipolysis in normal weight and obese subjects via the AT1 receptor.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lafontan M . Fat cells: afferent and efferent messages define new approaches to treat obesity. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2005; 45: 119–146.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Arner P . Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes – role of the adipokines. Curr Mol Med 2005; 5: 333–339.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kershaw EE, Flier JS . Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004; 89: 2548–2556.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Schling P, Schafer T . Human adipose tissue cells keep tight control on the angiotensin II levels in their vicinity. J Biol Chem 2002; 277: 48066–48075.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Karlsson C, Lindell K, Ottosson M, Sjostrom L, Carlsson B, Carlsson LM . Human adipose tissue expresses angiotensinogen and enzymes required for its conversion to angiotensin II. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998; 83: 3925–3929.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Crandall DL, Herzlinger HE, Saunders BD, Armellino DC, Kral JG . Distribution of angiotensin II receptors in rat and human adipocytes. J Lipid Res 1994; 35: 1378–1385.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Schling P, Mallow H, Trindl A, Loffler G . Evidence for a local renin angiotensin system in primary cultured human preadipocytes. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999; 23: 336–341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Goossens GH, Blaak EE, van Baak MA . Possible involvement of the adipose tissue renin–angiotensin system in the pathophysiology of obesity and obesity-related disorders. Obes Rev 2003; 4: 43–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Strazzullo P, Galletti F . Impact of the renin–angiotensin system on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2004; 13: 325–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Sharma AM, Janke J, Gorzelniak K, Engeli S, Luft FC . Angiotensin blockade prevents type 2 diabetes by formation of fat cells. Hypertension 2002; 40: 609–611.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Janke J, Engeli S, Gorzelniak K, Luft FC, Sharma AM . Mature adipocytes inhibit in vitro differentiation of human preadipocytes via angiotensin type 1 receptors. Diabetes 2002; 51: 1699–1707.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jones BH, Standridge MK, Moustaid N . Angiotensin II increases lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 and human adipose cells. Endocrinology 1997; 138: 1512–1519.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Goossens GH, Blaak EE, Saris WH, van Baak MA . Angiotensin II-induced effects on adipose and skeletal muscle tissue blood flow and lipolysis in normal-weight and obese subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004; 89: 2690–2696.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rodbell M . Metabolism of isolated fat cells: effects of hormones on glucose metabolism and lipolysis. J Biol Chem 1964; 239: 375–380.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hellmer J, Arner P, Lundin A . Automatic luminometric kinetic assay of glycerol for lipolysis studies. Anal Biochem 1989; 177: 132–137.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Johnson JA, Fried SK, Pi-Sunyer FX, Albu JB . Impaired insulin action in subcutaneous adipocytes from women with visceral obesity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2001; 280: E40–E49.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Campbell DJ, Kladis A . Simultaneous radioimmunoassay of six angiotensin peptides in arterial and venous plasma of man. J Hypertens 1990; 8: 165–172.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Perry CG, Palmer T, Cleland SJ, Morton IJ, Salt IP, Petrie JR et al. Decreased insulin sensitivity during dietary sodium restriction is not mediated by effects of angiotensin II on insulin action. Clin Sci (London) 2003; 105: 187–194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cabassi A, Coghi P, Govoni P, Barouhiel E, Speroni E, Cavazzini S et al. Sympathetic modulation by carvedilol and losartan reduces angiotensin II-mediated lipolysis in subcutaneous and visceral fat. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005; 90: 2888–2897.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Kerstin Wåhlén, Eva Sjölin and Freek Bouwman for excellent technical assistance. Losartan was provided by Merck Sharp and Dohme (Haarlem, The Netherlands).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    G H Goossens, E E Blaak, W H M Saris & M A van Baak

  2. Department of Medicine, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    P Arner

Authors
  1. G H Goossens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E E Blaak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P Arner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W H M Saris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M A van Baak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G H Goossens.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goossens, G., Blaak, E., Arner, P. et al. Angiotensin II: a hormone that affects lipid metabolism in adipose tissue. Int J Obes 31, 382–384 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803388

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803388

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links