Alterations in lipid signaling underlie lipodystrophy secondary to AGPAT2 mutations

Diabetes. 2012 Nov;61(11):2922-31. doi: 10.2337/db12-0004. Epub 2012 Aug 7.

Abstract

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL), secondary to AGPAT2 mutation is characterized by the absence of adipocytes and development of severe insulin resistance. In the current study, we investigated the adipogenic defect associated with AGPAT2 mutations. Adipogenesis was studied in muscle-derived multipotent cells (MDMCs) isolated from vastus lateralis biopsies obtained from controls and subjects harboring AGPAT2 mutations and in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes after knockdown or overexpression of AGPAT2. We demonstrate an adipogenic defect using MDMCs from control and CGL human subjects with mutated AGPAT2. This defect was rescued in CGL MDMCs with a retrovirus expressing AGPAT2. Both CGL-derived MDMCs and 3T3-L1 cells with knockdown of AGPAT2 demonstrated an increase in cell death after induction of adipogenesis. Lack of AGPAT2 activity reduces Akt activation, and overexpression of constitutively active Akt can partially restore lipogenesis. AGPAT2 modulated the levels of phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol species, as well as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) inhibitor cyclic phosphatidic acid. The PPARγ agonist pioglitazone partially rescued the adipogenic defect in CGL cells. We conclude that AGPAT2 regulates adipogenesis through the modulation of the lipome, altering normal activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and PPARγ pathways in the early stages of adipogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells
  • Acyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Acyltransferases / genetics
  • Acyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipocytes / pathology
  • Adipogenesis
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Lipodystrophy, Congenital Generalized / genetics*
  • Lipodystrophy, Congenital Generalized / metabolism*
  • Lipodystrophy, Congenital Generalized / pathology
  • Mice
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / pathology
  • Mutant Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • PPAR gamma / agonists
  • PPAR gamma / antagonists & inhibitors
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Quadriceps Muscle / metabolism
  • Quadriceps Muscle / pathology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Mutant Proteins
  • PPAR gamma
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Acyltransferases
  • 2-acylglycerophosphate acyltransferase
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt