Influence of obesity and insulin sensitivity on insulin signaling genes in human omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue

Obesity and insulin resistance are independent risk factors for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Adipose tissue samples from nonobese (NO), insulin-sensitive obese (ISO), and insulin-resistant obese (IRO) subjects from subcutaneous (SC) and omental (OM) adipose tissue (n = 28) were analyzed by microarray and confirmed by real-time PCR. Insulin signaling gene expression changes were greater in OM than in SC tissue and were related to insulin resistance rather than to obesity; few genes correlated with body mass index. Insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) increased in the IRO versus pooled insulin-sensitive (NO+ISO) subjects. In glucose transport, PI3K alpha and PDK2 decreased in IRO subjects, whereas PI3K gamma, Akt2, GLUT4, and GLUT1 increased. IRS-1 regulators Jnk and IKK increased in IRO (P< 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively). In protein synthesis, most genes examined were downregulated in IRO subjects, including mTor, Rheb, and 4EBP and eIF members (all P< 0.05). In proliferation, SHC, SOS, and Raf1 (P< 0.05) were increased, whereas Ras and MEK1/2 kinase 1 (P, 0.05) were decreased, in IRO subjects. Finally, in differentiation, PPAR gamma, CEBP alpha, and CEBP beta decreased, whereas PPAR delta, CEBP gamma, and CEBP epsilon increased, in IRO subjects (P< 0.05). Together, microarray and real-time PCR data demonstrate that insulin resistance rather than obesity is associated with altered gene expression of insulin signaling genes, especially in OM adipose tissue.