The ω6-fatty acid, arachidonic acid, regulates the conversion of white to brite adipocyte through a prostaglandin/calcium mediated pathway.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Brite adipocytes are inducible energy-dissipating cells expressing UCP1 which appear within white adipose tissue of healthy adult individuals. Recruitment of these cells represents a potential strategy to fight obesity and associated diseases.

METHODS/RESULTS:

Using human Multipotent Adipose-Derived Stem cells, able to convert into brite adipocytes, we show that arachidonic acid strongly inhibits brite adipocyte formation via a cyclooxygenase pathway leading to secretion of PGE2 and PGF2α. Both prostaglandins induce an oscillatory Ca(++) signaling coupled to ERK pathway and trigger a decrease in UCP1 expression and in oxygen consumption without altering mitochondriogenesis. In mice fed a standard diet supplemented with ω6 arachidonic acid, PGF2α and PGE2 amounts are increased in subcutaneous white adipose tissue and associated with a decrease in the recruitment of brite adipocytes.

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that dietary excess of ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids present in Western diets, may also favor obesity by preventing the "browning" process to take place.

• Authors: Didier F Pisani, Rayane A Ghandour, Guillaume E Beranger, Pauline Le Faouder, Jean-Claude Chambard, Maude Giroud, Alexandros Vegiopoulos, Mansour Djedaini, Justine Bertrand-Michel, Michel Tauc, Stephan Herzig, Dominique Langin, Gérard Ailhaud, Christophe Duranton, Ez-Zoubir Amri
• Journal: Molecular metabolism (Mol Metab) Vol. 3 Issue 9 Pg. 834-47 (Dec 2014) ISSN: 2212-8778 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 25506549 (Publication Type: Journal Article)