Adipose tissue and its secreted products, adipokines, have a major role in the development of obesity-associated metabolic derangements including Type 2 diabetes. Conversely, obesity and its metabolic sequelae may be counteracted by modulating metabolism and secretory functions of adipose tissue. LC-PUFAs (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) of the n−3 series, namely DHA (docosahexaenoic acid; C22:6n−3) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid; C20:5n−3), exert numerous beneficial effects, such as improvements in lipid metabolism and prevention of obesity and diabetes, which partially result from the metabolic action of n−3 LC-PUFAs in adipose tissue. Recent studies highlight the importance of mitochondria in adipose tissue for the maintenance of systemic insulin sensitivity. For instance, both n−3 LC-PUFAs and the antidiabetic drugs TZDs (thiazolidinediones) induce mitochondrial biogenesis and β-oxidation. The activation of this ‘metabolic switch’ in adipocytes leads to a decrease in adiposity. Both n−3 LC-PUFAs and TZDs ameliorate a low-grade inflammation of adipose tissue associated with obesity and induce changes in the pattern of secreted adipokines, resulting in improved systemic insulin sensitivity. In contrast with TZDs, which act as agonists of PPARγ (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-γ) and promote differentiation of adipocytes and adipose tissue growth, n−3 LC-PUFAs affect fat cells by different mechanisms, including the transcription factors PPARα and PPARδ. Some of the effects of n−3 LC-PUFAs on adipose tissue depend on their active metabolites, especially eicosanoids. Thus treatments affecting adipose tissue by multiple mechanisms, such as combining n−3 LC-PUFAs with either caloric restriction or antidiabetic/anti-obesity drugs, should be explored.
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January 2009
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Review Article|
November 28 2008
Cellular and molecular effects of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on adipose tissue biology and metabolism
Pavel Flachs;
Pavel Flachs
*Department of Adipose Tissue Biology, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
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Martin Rossmeisl;
Martin Rossmeisl
*Department of Adipose Tissue Biology, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
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Morten Bryhn;
Morten Bryhn
†Silentia AS, 3060 Svelvik, Norway
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Jan Kopecky
*Department of Adipose Tissue Biology, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
Correspondence: Dr Jan Kopecky (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
December 19 2007
Revision Received:
February 19 2008
Accepted:
March 10 2008
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Biochemical Society
2009
Clin Sci (Lond) (2009) 116 (1): 1–16.
Article history
Received:
December 19 2007
Revision Received:
February 19 2008
Accepted:
March 10 2008
Citation
Pavel Flachs, Martin Rossmeisl, Morten Bryhn, Jan Kopecky; Cellular and molecular effects of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on adipose tissue biology and metabolism. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 January 2009; 116 (1): 1–16. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20070456
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