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Omental Adipose Tissue Type 1 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Oxoreductase Activity, Body Fat Distribution, and Metabolic Alterations in Women

Endocrinology and Genomics (A.V., V.L.-T., A.T.) and Department of Food Science and Nutrition (A.V., A.T.), Laval University, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6; and Gynecology Unit (C.R., M.D.), Laval University Medical Research Center, Québec, Canada G1V 4G2

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: André Tchernof, Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology Research Center, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Laval University Medical Research Center, 2705 Laurier Boulevard (T3-67), Québec (Québec), Canada G1V 4G2. E-mail: andre.tchernof{at}crchul.ulaval.ca.

Context: Modulation of adipose tissue exposure to active glucocorticoids by type 1 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD1) is involved in abdominal obesity of rodent models, but only a few studies have related 11β-HSD1 oxoreductase activity to fat distribution in humans.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the link between 11β-HSD1 oxoreductase activity, fat distribution patterns, and the metabolic profile in women.

Methods: Omental (OM) and sc adipose tissue samples were obtained from 36 lean to obese women (aged 47.2 ± 5.3 yr; body mass index 29.1 ± 5.2 kg/m²) undergoing gynecological surgery. Measures of body composition, fat distribution, blood lipids, and insulin sensitivity were obtained. 11β-HSD1 oxoreductase activity was measured over a 24-h period by the reduction of [¹⁴C]cortisone in adipose tissue homogenates.

Results: 11β-HSD1 oxoreductase activity was higher in OM compared with sc adipose tissue (9.6 ± 4.9 vs. 7.9 ± 4.2 pmol/mg · h, P < 0.01). OM 11β-HSD1 oxoreductase activity was positively associated with OM adipocyte size (r = 0.67, P < 0.0001) and visceral adipose tissue area (r = 0.57, P < 0.0003). A positive correlation was also observed between the OM/sc 11β-HSD1 oxoreductase activity ratio and the OM/sc adipocyte size ratio (r = 0.37, P < 0.05) as well as the visceral/sc adipose tissue area ratio (r = 0.36, P < 0.05). Women in the highest tertile of OM 11β-HSD1 oxoreductase activity had larger OM adipocytes, increased OM lipolysis, increased lipoprotein lipase activity, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, decreased adiponectin levels, and an increased homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index compared with women in the lower tertile (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: These results suggest that a relatively higher 11β-HSD1 activity in OM vs. sc adipose tissue is associated with preferential visceral fat accumulation and concomitant metabolic alterations.