Depot-Specific Variation in Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase Activities in Human Omental and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue: A Potential Contribution to Differential Insulin Sensitivity

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2001-12, Vol.86 (12), p.5973-5980
• Main Authors: Wu, Xiangdong, Hoffstedt, Johan, Deeb, Wasim, Singh, Reetu, Sedkova, Natalia, Zilbering, Assaf, Zhu, Li, Park, Pauline K., Arner, Peter, Goldstein, Barry J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - enzymology; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Humans; Insulin - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Obesity; Omentum; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - metabolism; Receptor, Insulin - metabolism; Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 4; Receptors, Cell Surface; Skin; Tubulin - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jcem.86.12.8109

Compared with the sc depot, omental (om) adipose tissue is relatively resistant to the metabolic actions of insulin. Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) modulate receptor kinase activation and signal transduction in insulin-sensitive tissues, and their activity is dependent on the reduced state of the cysteine thiol required for catalysis. Using a novel anaerobic technique to avoid air oxidation, we found that the mean endogenous PTPase activity was 2.1-fold higher in om compared with paired samples of sc adipose tissue (P < 0.003). The specific activity of PTP1B isolated under anaerobic conditions was also 41% higher in om adipose tissue (P < 0.001). Interestingly, the total PTPase activity from both adipose depots and the specific activity of PTP1B was increased by 42–71% after reduction in vitro with dithiothreitol, indicating that a major fraction of the cellular PTPase activity can be reactivated by sulfhydryl reduction. The mass of the insulin receptor β-subunit and the PTPases PTP1B and leukocyte antigen related was not significantly different between the two adipose depots. These studies provide the first demonstration that endogenous PTPase activity, including PTP1B, is increased in om adipose tissue and may contribute to the relative insulin resistance of this fat depot. The finding that a substantial fraction of PTPase activity in human adipose tissue is present in a latent, oxidized form also suggests a potential means of in vivo regulation of these important cellular enzymes that modulate the insulin signaling cascade.