Adipose tissue lipin-1 expression is correlated with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha gene expression and insulin sensitivity in healthy young men

Context: Lipin-1 functions in adipocyte triglyceride biosynthesis and in the regulation of gene expression, both of which may influence metabolic homeostasis. Objective: Our objective was to determine whether variations in adipose tissue lipin-1 expression levels influence insulin sensitivity and gene expression in young healthy human subjects. Design and Subjects: In 56 healthy young men (22.6 +/- 3.2 yr; 26.4 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2)) we determined insulin sensitivity by a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, and whole body oxygen consumption and respiratory quotient by indirect calorimetry. We performed gene expression analysis in adipose tissue samples from human subjects and from lipin-1 transgenic mice using quantitative RT-PCR. Results: In healthy young men, lipin-1 expression was positively correlated with insulin sensitivity (R(2) = 0.22; P < 0.01), insulin-stimulated respiratory quotient (R(2) = 0.16; P < 0.01), and maximal oxygen consumption during exercise (R(2) = 0.16; P < 0.01). Lipin-1 mRNA levels were also correlated with expression of genes involved in lipid oxidation, uptake, and lipolysis, both in humans and in lipin-1 transgenic mice. The strongest correlation occurred between lipin-1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor a (R(2) = 0.74; P < 1 X 10(-7)), a nuclear receptor with a key role in fatty acid oxidation. Conclusion: Lipin-1 expression levels in adipose tissue of healthy young subjects and in mice are correlated with a favorable metabolic profile and expression of fatty acid oxidation genes.