Association of PPAR gamma gene expression with postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Purpose Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) gene is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as postprandial lipemia, and plays an important role in Wnt dependent adipogenesis in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). We aimed to study the expression of PPAR gamma gene in SAT and VAT to find out its correlation with postprandial hypertriglyceredemia and glucose intolerance. Methods Thirty subjects who were scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery were recruited in three groups (n = 10 in NGT, n = 10 in prediabetes, and n = 10 in T2DM). A standardized oral fat challenge was performed. Anthropometry, plasma glucose, HbA1c, and fasting serum insulin were also measured. SAT and VATs were collected during surgery for PPAR gamma gene expression studies by real-time PCR. Results PPAR gamma gene expression was 5.5-fold lower in T2DM and 1.7-fold lower in prediabetes as compared with NGT subjects in VAT. There was a significant negative correlation of expression of PPAR gamma gene in VAT {Tgauc (r = -0.57, p < 0.007), Peak Tg (r = -0.51, p < 0.01)} as well as in subcutaneous adipose tissue {Tgauc (r = -0.45, p < 0.02)} with PPTg responses measures. Conclusion Reduced adipocyte expression of PPAR gamma gene and the resultant postprandial hypertriglyceredemia is associated with greater risk of diabetes and prediabetes.