The Effects of Hypoxia on Human Adipose Tissue Lipid Storage and Mobilization Functions: From Primary Cell Culture to Healthy Men

Abstract

Adipose tissue plays a central role in the regulation of lipid storage and mobilization. A tight control between adipose tissue lipid storage and mobilization functions must be exerted to prevent an overload of lipids at other organs such as the heart, liver and skeletal muscles, and favor the risk of developing metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There is strong evidence from animal studies that low oxygen levels (hypoxia) are noted in adipose tissue as the mass of the organ excessively expands and, in turn, exacerbates some adipose tissue functions. Whether hypoxia exposure, which could be derived from reduced environmental oxygen availability, disease or a combination of both, affects adipose tissue lipid storage and mobilization functions in humans is not well known. Using in vitro and in vivo approaches, this thesis aimed at characterizing the effects of hypoxia on human adipose tissue lipid storage and lipid mobilization functions. Study I investigated how hypoxia can modulate human adipose functions such as lipid storage and lipid mobilization in vitro. Study II examined whether acute intermittent hypoxia, which simulates obstructive sleep apnea, affects adipose tissue lipid storage/mobilization functions and triglyceride levels in healthy young men in postprandial state. Study III tested the effect of an acute 6-hour continuous exposure to hypoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) = 0.12)) on plasma triglyceride levels in healthy young men in the fasting state. Study I indicates that both acute (24h) and chronic (14d) hypoxia (3%, and 10% O2) modulate human adipose tissue lipid storage and mobilization functions in a different manner. Study II demonstrates that acute exposure to intermittent hypoxia (6h) is sufficient to increase plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels, as well as insulin levels, but does not alter circulating triglyceride or subcutaneous adipose tissue lipid storage and/or mobilization capacity ex vivo in healthy men. Study III shows that acute exposure to normobaric hypoxia increases circulating NEFA and glycerol concentrations but did not translate in altering circulating triglycerides in fasting healthy men. In conclusion, our observations suggest that an exposure to reduced oxygen levels impairs human adipose tissue storage and/or mobilization functions, a phenomenon known in the development of metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes and CVD.