The lipin protein family in human adipocytes: lipid metabolism and obesity

Identifier:  TDX:2417

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2417

Authors:  Temprano López, Ana

Abstract:
Lipins are evolutionarily conserved Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphatases (PAP1) that generate diacylglycerol for phospholipid and triacylglycerol synthesis. In mammals the Lipin family consists of lipin-1, lipin-2 and lipin-3. Whereas mutations in the Lpin1 gene cause lipodystrophy in mouse models, LPIN1 deleterious mutations in humans do not affect fat distribution. However, reduced LPIN1 expression and PAP1 activity have been described in participants with type 2 diabetes. In this doctoral thesis we investigate the roles of all lipin family members in human adipose tissue, adipogenesis and lipolysis. We found that adipose tissue gene and protein expression of the lipin family is altered in type 2 diabetes. Depletion of every lipin family member in a human Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome (SGBS) pre-adipocyte cell line showed that even though all members alter early stages of adipogenesis, lipin-silenced cells differentiate and accumulate neutral lipids, pointing to the hypothesis of alternative pathways for triacylglycerol synthesis under repression of lipin expression. Lipins also have a role in the recycling of the fatty acids released by the lipolytic pathway. They become dephosphorylated upon lipolytic induction, and translocate to their active site, the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. This activation is induced by fatty acids and reversed with albumin or triacsin C. Depletion of every lipin member and subsequently stimulation of lipolysis in SGBS adipocytes revealed a role for lipins in neutral lipid metabolism. Overall, our data support that lipins may not have an indispensable role in adipogenesis, but their depletion compromise fatty acid recycling and lipid homeostasis.