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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104822
Title: FATTY ACIDS MODULATE PORCINE ADIPOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION AND TRANSCRIPTS FOR TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND ADIPOCYTE-CHARACTERISTIC PROTEINS

Author
item DING, SHIH-TORNG - BAYLOR COLL. OF MEDICINE
item Mersmann, Harry

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/11/2000
Publication Date: 3/1/2001
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Dietary fatty acids are a source of energy for cells, and are taken up into fat cells' membranes and storage sites. Fat cell precursor cells can be isolated from pig fat, cultured in the laboratory and when presented with the proper hormone mixture, will change into fat cells. We took these types of cells and differentiated them in laboratory cultures, both with and without fatty acids. Our goal was to determine the effects of individual fatty acids on the differentiation of pig fat cells and genes that regulate fat cell differentiation or are characteristic of fat cells. The pig precursor cells differentiated into fat cells on stimulation by insulin and other hormones. Incubation with fatty acids increased fat cell differentiation and products of selected fat cell genes. The results suggest that certain fatty acids regulate pig fat cell differentiation, and further, that there may be marked species differences in the effects of individual fatty acids on fat cell differentiation.

Technical Abstract: Porcine stromal vascular cells (S/V cells). Porcine S/V cells were differentiated into adipocytyes in vitro to determine the effect of added fatty acids on transcripts for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein a (C/EBPalpha), adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Transcript concentrations were measured by Northern analysis, using porcine riboprobes. Addition of 100 muM oleic acid (C18:1) for 5 d significantly increased adipocyte differentiation and the mRNA levels for PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, aP2, and LPL (approximately twofold). Other medium- and long- chain fatty acids were less active. Polyunsaturated fatty acids resulted in major cell loss by 5 d in vitro. Lower concentrations(12.5 to 25 muM) of C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, arachidonic acid, or docosahexaenoic acid had no effect on adipocyte differentiation and transcript concentrations. At concentrations of 100, 200, or 300 muM in the medium, C18:1 significantly increased adipocyte differentiation and transcript concentrations for PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, LPL, and aP2. One major finding was that the acute effect (1 day) of C18:1 on differentiation was greater than the chronic response at 5 or 10 d. This result suggests that the main effect of C18:1 is on regulating gene expression (an acute or drug-like effect) rather than changing the membrane fluidity as a result of changing membrane fatty acid composition (a chronic or nutrient-like effect). Taken together, these results indicate selected fatty acids modulate porcine adipocyte differentiation and the transcripts for adipocyte differentiation-related proteins such as PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, aP2, and LPL.