Separation of human adipocytes by size: hypertrophic fat cells display distinct gene expression
Journal article, 2006
Enlarged adipocytes are associated with insulin resistance and are an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes. To understand the molecular link between these diseases and adipocyte hypertrophy, we developed a technique to separate human adipocytes from an adipose tissue sample into populations of small cells (mean 57.6+-3.54 um) and large cells (mean 100.1+-3.94 um). Microarray analysis of the cell populations separated from adipose tissue from three subjects identified 14 genes, of which five immune-related, with more than fourfold higher expression in large cells than small cells. Two of these genes were serum amyloid A (SAA) and transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1). Real-time RT-PCR analysis of SAA and TM4SF1 expression in adipocytes from seven subjects revealed 19-fold and 22-fold higher expression in the large cells, respectively, and a correlation between adipocyte size and both SAA and TM4SF1 expression. The results were verified using immunohistochemistry. In comparison with 17 other human tissues and cell types by microarray, large adipocytes displayed by far the highest SAA and TM4SF1 expression. Thus, we have identified genes with markedly higher expression in large, compared with small, human adipocytes. These genes may link hypertrophic obesity to insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes.
serum amyloid a
transmembrane 4 L six family member 1
insulin resistance
leptin
cell size
Author
Margareta Jernås
University of Gothenburg
Jenny Palming
University of Gothenburg
Kajsa Sjöholm
University of Gothenburg
Eva Jennische
University of Gothenburg
Per-Arne Svensson
University of Gothenburg
Britt Gabrielsson
Research Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism
Max Levin
University of Gothenburg
Anders Sjögren
Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics
University of Gothenburg
Mats Rudemo
University of Gothenburg
Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics
Ted Lystig
University of Gothenburg
Björn Carlsson
University of Gothenburg
Lena M S Carlsson
University of Gothenburg
Malin Lönn
University of Gothenburg
FASEB Journal
0892-6638 (ISSN) 1530-6860 (eISSN)
Vol. 20 9 E832-E839Subject Categories
Endocrinology and Diabetes
Probability Theory and Statistics
DOI
10.1096/fj.05-5678fje