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Influence of heredity for obesity on adipocyte lipolysis in lean and obese subjects

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 340–344 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a possible influence of a hereditary trait for obesity on the regulation of adipocyte metabolism in vitro in subcutaneous fat cells in obese and non-obese subjects.

DESIGN: A biopsy from abdominal subcutaneous fat was obtained from consecutive subjects with or without a family trait for obesity. A positive family history of obesity was considered present if one or more of the first degree relatives had a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or more.

SUBJECTS: 67 non-obese and 60 obese subjects, age 19–60 y. A family trait for overweight was present in 42 of the lean subjects and in 50 of the obese subjects.

MEASUREMENTS: Fat cells were isolated and incubated in vitro with isoprenaline (a non-selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist), forskolin (activates the adenylyl cyclase) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (stimulates the protein kinase hormone-sensitive lipase complex). Glycerol release was measured and used as lipolytic index.

RESULTS: Maximal lipolytic response per g triglycerides was about 50% lower in obese subjects both with and without a positive heredity and in non-obese subjects with a family trait for obesity as compared to non-obese subjects without such trait (P=0.0001). Fat cell volume was twice as high in obese as compared to lean subjects. Drug-induced maximal glycerol release per fat cell in the obese subjects, regardless of family history of obesity, reached a similar level, but did not exceed that of the lean group without heredity.

CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with catecholamine resistance with a relatively ineffective lipolysis in fat cells, and presence of a family history of obesity was not associated with a further suppression of lipolysis. In the lean subjects, heredity for obesity significantly influenced lipolysis to similar low levels as in the obese subjects.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by grants from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, The Swedish Medical Society, The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and the Karolinska Institute, Sweden.

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  1. Department of Medicine at Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Danderyd, Sweden

    L Hellström & S Reynisdottir

  2. Department of Medicine and Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institute, at Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

    L Hellström & S Reynisdottir

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  1. L Hellström
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Correspondence to L Hellström.

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Hellström, L., Reynisdottir, S. Influence of heredity for obesity on adipocyte lipolysis in lean and obese subjects. Int J Obes 24, 340–344 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801134

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