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Long-chain fatty acid uptake is upregulated in omental adipocytes from patients undergoing bariatric surgery for obesity

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 196–203 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the impact of obesity on adipocyte cell size and long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) uptake kinetics in human subjects undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

SUBJECTS:

A total of 10 obese patients (BMI 49.8±11.9 (s.d.) kg/m2) undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery, and 10 nonobese subjects (BMI 24.2±2.3 kg/m2) undergoing other clinically indicated laparoscopic abdominal surgical procedures.

MEASUREMENTS:

Cell size distribution and [3H]oleic acid uptake kinetics were studied in adipocytes isolated from omental fat biopsies obtained during surgery. Adipocyte surface area (SA) was calculated from the measured cell diameters. Plasma leptin and insulin concentrations were measured by RIA in fasting blood samples obtained on the morning of surgery.

RESULTS:

The mean SA of obese adipocytes (41 508±5381 μ2/cell) was increased 2.4-fold compared to that of nonobese adipocytes (16 928±6529 μ2/cell; P<0.01). LCFA uptake in each group was the sum of saturable and nonsaturable components. Both the Vmax of the saturable component (21.3±6.3 vs 5.1±1.9 pmol/s/50 000 cells) and the rate constant k of the nonsaturable component (0.015±0.002 vs 0.0066±0.0023 ml/s/50 000 cells) were increased (P<0.001) in obese adipocytes compared with nonobese controls. When expressed relative to cell size, Vmax/μ2 SA was greater in obese than nonobese adipocytes (P<0.05), whereas k/μ2 SA did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSION:

The data support the concepts that (1) adipocyte LCFA uptake consists of distinct facilitated (saturable) and diffusive processes; (2) increased saturable LCFA uptake in obese adipocytes is not simply a consequence of increased cell size, but rather reflects upregulation of a facilitated transport process; and (3) the permeability of adipocyte plasma membranes to LCFA is not appreciably altered by obesity, and increased nonsaturable uptake in obese adipocytes principally reflects an increase in cell SA. Regulation of saturable LCFA uptake by adipocytes may be an important control point for body adiposity.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grants DK-26438, DK-52401, and DK-66667 from the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK) and by the Mount Sinai Liver Disease Research Fund. We appreciate the advice of Dr Carol Bodian on biostatistical issues.

Author information

Author notes

  1. P Gentileschi

    Present address: Department of Surgery, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

  2. M Bradbury

    Present address: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, 16505, USA

  3. M Gagner

    Present address: Department of Surgery (Division of Laparoscopic Surgery), Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10021, USA

  4. P D Berk

    Present address: Department of Medicine (Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases), Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine (Division of Liver Disease), Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    O Petrescu, X Fan, M Bradbury & P D Berk

  2. Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    P Gentileschi & M Gagner

  3. Department of Biomathematics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    S Hossain

  4. Department of Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    P D Berk

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Correspondence to P D Berk.

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Petrescu, O., Fan, X., Gentileschi, P. et al. Long-chain fatty acid uptake is upregulated in omental adipocytes from patients undergoing bariatric surgery for obesity. Int J Obes 29, 196–203 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802868

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