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Increased adipose tissue aromatase activity improves insulin sensitivity and reduces adipose tissue inflammation in male mice
Ohlsson, Claes Hammarstedt, Ann Vandenput, Liesbeth Saarinen, Niina Ryberg, Henrik Windahl, Sara H. Farman, Helen H. Jansson, John-Olov Movérare-Skrtic, Sofia Smith, Ulf
Ohlsson, Claes
Hammarstedt, Ann
Vandenput, Liesbeth
Saarinen, Niina
Ryberg, Henrik
Windahl, Sara H.
Farman, Helen H.
Jansson, John-Olov
Movérare-Skrtic, Sofia
Smith, Ulf
Abstract
Females are, in general, more insulin sensitive than males. To investigate whether this is a direct effect of sex-steroids (SS) in white adipose tissue (WAT), we developed a male mouse model overexpressing the aromatase enzyme, converting testosterone (T) to estradiol (E2), specifically in WAT (Ap2-arom mice). Adipose tissue E2 levels were increased while circulating SS levels were unaffected in male Ap2-arom mice. Importantly, male Ap2-arom mice were more insulin sensitive compared with WT mice and exhibited increased serum adiponectin levels and upregulated expression of Glut4 and Irs1 in WAT. The expression of markers of macrophages and immune cell infiltration was markedly decreased in WAT of male Ap2-arom mice. The adipogenesis was enhanced in male Ap2-arom mice, supported by elevated Pparg expression in WAT and enhanced differentiation of preadipocyte into mature adipocytes. In summary, increased adipose tissue aromatase activity reduces adipose tissue inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity in male mice. We propose that estrogen increases insulin sensitivity via a local effect in WAT on adiponectin expression, adipose tissue inflammation, and adipogenesis.
Keywords
aromatase, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, estrogen, adipose tissue
Date
2017
Type
Journal article
Journal
American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Book
Volume
313
Issue
4
Page Range
E450-E462
Article Number
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled