Omega-3 fatty acids and adipose tissue biology. 2018

Ondrej Kuda, and Martin Rossmeisl, and Jan Kopecky
Department of Adipose Tissue Biology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska, 1083 Prague 4, Czech Republic.

This review provides evidence for the importance of white and brown adipose tissue (i.e. WAT and BAT) function for the maintenance of healthy metabolic phenotype and its preservation in response to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA), namely in the context of diseased states linked to aberrant accumulation of body fat, systemic low-grade inflammation, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. More specifically, the review deals with (i) the concept of immunometabolism, i.e. how adipose-resident immune cells and adipocytes affect each other and define the immune-metabolic interface; and (ii) the characteristic features of "healthy adipocytes" in WAT, which are relatively small fat cells endowed with a high capacity for mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, triacylglycerol/fatty acid (TAG/FA) cycling and de novo lipogenesis (DNL). The intrinsic metabolic features of WAT and their flexible regulations, reflecting the presence of "healthy adipocytes", provide beneficial local and systemic effects, including (i) protection against in situ endoplasmic reticulum stress and related inflammatory response during activation of adipocyte lipolysis; (ii) prevention of ectopic fat accumulation and dyslipidemia caused by increased hepatic VLDL synthesis, as well as prevention of lipotoxic damage of insulin signaling in extra-adipose tissues; and also (iii) increased synthesis of anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing lipid mediators with pro-resolving properties, including the branched fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs), also depending on the activity of DNL in WAT. The "healthy adipocytes" phenotype can be induced in WAT of obese mice in response to various stimuli including dietary omega-3 PUFA, especially when combined with moderate calorie restriction, and possibly also with other life style (e.g. physical activity) or pharmacological (e.g. thiazolidinediones) interventions. While omega-3 PUFA could exert beneficial systemic effects by improving immunometabolism of WAT without a concomitant induction of BAT, it is currently not clear whether the metabolic effects of the combined intervention using omega-3 PUFA and calorie restriction or thiazolidinediones depend also on the activation of BAT function and/or the induction of brite/beige adipocytes in WAT. It remains to be established why omega-3 PUFA intervention in type 2 diabetic subjects does not improve insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis despite inducing various anti-inflammatory mediators in WAT, including the recently discovered docosahexaenoyl esters of hydroxy linoleic acid, the lipokines from the FAHFA family, as well as several endocannabinoid-related anti-inflammatory lipids. To answer the question whether and to which extent omega-3 PUFA supplementation could promote the formation of "healthy adipocytes" in WAT of human subjects, namely in the obese insulin-resistant patients, represents a challenging task that is of great importance for the treatment of some serious non-communicable diseases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007249 Inflammation A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Innate Inflammatory Response,Inflammations,Inflammatory Response, Innate,Innate Inflammatory Responses
D007333 Insulin Resistance Diminished effectiveness of INSULIN in lowering blood sugar levels: requiring the use of 200 units or more of insulin per day to prevent HYPERGLYCEMIA or KETOSIS. Insulin Sensitivity,Resistance, Insulin,Sensitivity, Insulin
D008066 Lipolysis The metabolic process of breaking down LIPIDS to release FREE FATTY ACIDS, the major oxidative fuel for the body. Lipolysis may involve dietary lipids in the DIGESTIVE TRACT, circulating lipids in the BLOOD, and stored lipids in the ADIPOSE TISSUE or the LIVER. A number of enzymes are involved in such lipid hydrolysis, such as LIPASE and LIPOPROTEIN LIPASE from various tissues. Lipolyses
D009765 Obesity A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015525 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 A group of unsaturated fatty acids occurring mainly in fish oils, with three double bonds at particular positions in the hydrocarbon chain. N-3 Fatty Acid,Omega-3 Fatty Acid,Omega-3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Oil,n3 Oil,Omega 3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Oils,n-3 PUFA,n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,n3 Fatty Acid,n3 Oils,n3 PUFA,n3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,Acid, N-3 Fatty,Acid, Omega-3 Fatty,Fatty Acid, N-3,Fatty Acid, Omega-3,Fatty Acid, n3,N 3 Fatty Acid,Oil, n-3,Oil, n3,Omega 3 Fatty Acid,PUFA, n-3,PUFA, n3,n 3 Fatty Acids,n 3 Oil,n 3 Oils,n 3 PUFA,n 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid
D017667 Adipocytes Cells in the body that store FATS, usually in the form of TRIGLYCERIDES. WHITE ADIPOCYTES are the predominant type and found mostly in the abdominal cavity and subcutaneous tissue. BROWN ADIPOCYTES are thermogenic cells that can be found in newborns of some species and hibernating mammals. Fat Cells,Lipocytes,Adipocyte,Cell, Fat,Cells, Fat,Fat Cell,Lipocyte
D050356 Lipid Metabolism Physiological processes in biosynthesis (anabolism) and degradation (catabolism) of LIPIDS. Metabolism, Lipid
D052436 Adipose Tissue, White Fatty tissue composed of WHITE ADIPOCYTES and generally found directly under the skin (SUBCUTANEOUS FAT) and around the internal organs (ABDOMINAL FAT). It has less vascularization and less coloration than the BROWN FAT. White fat provides heat insulation, mechanical cushion, and source of energy. White Fat,White Adipose Tissue,Fat, White,Tissue, White Adipose

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