FADS2 genotype regulates delta-6 desaturase activity and inflammation in human adipose tissue

Obesity is associated with disturbed lipid metabolism and low-grade inflammation in tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FA metabolism and adipose tissue (AT) inflammation in the Kuopio Obesity Surgery study. We investigated the association of surgery-induced weight loss and FA desaturase (FADS) 1/2 genotypes with serum and AT FA profile and with AT inflammation, measured as interleukin (IL)-1 beta and NF kappa B pathway gene expression, in order to find potential gene-environment interactions. We demonstrated an association between serum levels of saturated and polyunsaturated n-6 FM, and estimated enzyme activities of FADS1/2 genes with IL-1 beta expression in AT both at baseline and at follow-up. Variation in the FADS1/2 genes associated with IL-1 beta and NF kappa B pathway gene expression in SAT after weight reduction, but not at baseline. In addition, the FA composition in subcutaneous and visceral fat correlated with serum FM, and the associations between serum PUFAs and estimated D6D enzyme activity with AT inflammation were also replicated with corresponding AT FM and AT inflammation.jlr We conclude that the polymorphism in FADS1/2 genes associates with FA metabolism and AT inflammation, leading to an interaction between weight loss and FADS1/2 genes in the regulation of AT inflammation.