Philomena Hansen

Instructor Galvez
Bio1615 (LS)
Summary article
April 9, 2016
Association of Lipidome Remodeling in the Adipocyte
Membrane with Acquired Obesity in Humans.

Introduction:
Obesity is characterized by excess body fat which is predominantly
stored in the adipose tissue.(p.2). Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is
associated with obesity includes insulin resistance, hypertension and
dyslipidemia. But not all obese people have metS and cardiovascular
complications.
The limitation in ability of adipose tissue to expand and stored energy
is called adipose tissue expandability (p.1). If this limit of expansion is
reached, the excessive accumulation of reactive lipids species in muscles,
liver and pancreas has toxic effects and leads to metabolic complications. An
organism has allostatic adaptations that help to support a structure and
functions of the membrane (phospholipids) before the maximum limit is

reached and metabolic disease occurs. But at the same time, these
adaptations increase inflammation of adipose tissue.
Experiments, materials and results in:
Twins study Design:
Twin study design helps to exclude genetic influences of obesity. All
individuals were young adults in with healthy obesity. 13 Monozygotic (MZ)
twin pairs were discordant for body weight (one-lean, another- obese 20% in
average, both metabolically compensated) and 9 monozygotic (MZ) twin
pairs were concordant for body weight (4 pairs are lean and 5 pairs are
overweight and metabolically compensated). In the comparison of obese
twins with lean twins in concordant and discordant twins pairs: obese twins
were heavier, had more fat subcutaneously, intra-abdominally and in the
liver, had larger fat cell size (FCS) less adiponectin, more leptin, had signs of
insulin resistance, lower resistance to inflammatory factors, lower dietary
intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Level of lipids in Acquired Obesity:
There were 313 different lipids determined and compared in all 44 subjects
samples by using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupler to mass
spectrometry (UPLC-MS).
In comparison of obese twins with lean twins in concordant and discordant
twin pairs. There was an increased level of PUFAs (mainly either lipidsplasmalogens in obese twins, decreased level of phospholipids with
saturated fatty acids, increased level of triacylglycerols, free cholesterol did

not change significantly. According to the fact that consumption PUFA's in

obese twin is limited, there are adaptation mechanisms of remodeling in lipid
composition that exist.
Selective Enhance of fatty acids:
The results showed that obese twins in discordant twin pairs had selectively
enhanced levels of phospholipids through desaturation and elongation of
certain fatty acids.
The levels of palmitoleic and arachidonic acids increased in obese twins, but
there were no changes in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels between obese
and lean twins.
Maintaining fluidity and thickness:
Cell membrane consists of PUFA's phospholipids which maintain its fluidity
order and thickness. It plays a role of compensatory mechanism in acquired
obesity before obesity disorder occurs.
Elongase Evov16:
Evov16 regulates changes in the membrane of adipocytes and increases the
level of PUFA phospholipids in the membrane in obese twins (the intake of
PUFA decreased). The experiments show that elimination of Elongase
Evov16 lead to the decrease of PUFA and increase of saturated fatty acids in
the membrane of adipocytes. Consequently, the fluidity of membrane in
adipocytes was decreased.
To support or reject the hypothesis that compensated obesity in twins has a
mechanism to regulate the components of the membrane, the researches

needed to examine the lipid status of a parallel group of subjects with

uncompensated obesity (obesity disorder with metabolic syndrome). The
results showed that the membrane of subjects with obesity disorders contain
an increased level of saturated fatty acids. The compensation mechanism in
this case broke down and lead to metabolic syndrome. The results support
the hypothesis.
Conclusion:
This research showed that obese subjects without developed metabolic
syndrome have some compensatory mechanisms such as positive energy
balance and the regulation in lipid composition of cell membranes. At the
same time these compensatory mechanisms lead to increased susceptibility
of adipose tissue. The researchers use the twins study designed to exclude
the genetic influences of obesity. There was another parallel group of obese
subjects with developed metabolic syndrome. The compensatory mechanism
in that group was broken down, which lead to the development of chronic
symptoms of metabolic syndrome.

Work Cited
Pietilainen KH, Ro g T, Seppanen-laakso T, Virtue S, Gopalacharyulu
P, et al. (2011)

Association of Lipidome Remodeling in the Adipocyte Membrane with

Acquired Obesity in Humans. PloS Biol 9(6): e1000623.
doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000623
My Eportfolio link: http://philohansen.weebly.com