Skeletal muscle fatty acid transporter protein expression in type 2 diabetes patients compared with overweight, sedentary men and age-matched, endurance-trained cyclists.

Abstract

AIM:

Membrane fatty acid transporters can modulate the balance between fatty acid uptake and subsequent storage and/or oxidation in muscle tissue. As such, skeletal muscle fatty acid transporter protein expression could play an important role in the etiology of insulin resistance and/or type 2 diabetes.

METHODS:

In the present study, fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), plasma membrane-bound fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm) and fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1) mRNA and protein expression were assessed in muscle tissue obtained from 10 sedentary, overweight type 2 diabetes patients (60 +/- 2 years), 10 sedentary, weight-matched normoglycemic controls (60 +/- 2 years) and 10 age-matched, endurance trained cyclists (57 +/- 1 years).

RESULTS:

Both FAT/CD36 and FATP1 mRNA and protein expression did not differ between groups. In contrast, FABPpm mRNA and protein expression were approx. 30-40% higher in the trained men compared with the diabetes patients (P < 0.01) and sedentary controls (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Skeletal muscle FAT/CD36, FABPpm and FATP1 mRNA and protein expression are not up- or downregulated in a sedentary and/or insulin resistant state. In contrast, FABPpm expression is upregulated in the endurance trained state and likely instrumental to allow greater fatty acid oxidation rates.

• Authors: M M A L Pelsers, K Tsintzas, H Boon, K Jewell, L Norton, J J F P Luiken, J F C Glatz, L J C van Loon
• Journal: Acta physiologica (Oxford, England) (Acta Physiol (Oxf)) Vol. 190 Issue 3 Pg. 209-19 (Jul 2007) ISSN: 1748-1708 [Print] England
• PMID: 17394567 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fatty Acid Transport Proteins

Topics

• Bicycling (physiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Fatty Acid Transport Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle, Skeletal (metabolism)
• Overweight (genetics, metabolism)
• Physical Endurance (physiology)