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Low Levels of Lipogenic Enzymes in Peritumoral Adipose Tissue of Colorectal Cancer Patients

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Lipids

Abstract

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is the crucial enzyme for intravascular catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a key anabolic enzyme that catalyzes the terminal steps in the novo biosynthesis of 18:2n-6. The involvement of both LPL and FAS in tumor biology has been widely demonstrated in different studies and to verify whether there are regional differences in the expression of these enzymes in visceral adipose tissue from patients with colorectal cancer might be representative of events which sustain tumor growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate LPL and FAS activity and expression of their genes in adipose tissue adjacent to neoplasia and distant from it from patients operated for colorectal cancer. LPL enzymatic activity was evaluated by a fluorescent method and FAS activity by a radiometer assay. Reverse-transcription and real-time PCR were used to detect mRNA levels of two enzymes. Our findings show a significant reduction in both LPL and FAS gene expression and activity levels in adipose tissue adjacent to tumor lesion compared to those detected in paired tissue distant from neoplasia. These results underline the influence of tumor microenvironment on lipid metabolism in adipose tissue, demonstrating a tumor-induced impairment in the formation and lipid storing capacity of adipose tissue in patients with colorectal cancer.

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Abbreviations

LPL:

Lipoprotein lipase

FAS:

Fatty acid synthase

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

BMI:

Body mass index

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

DTT:

Dithiothreitol

NADPH:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

CoA:

Coenzyme A

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemistry, National Institute for Digestive Diseases “S. de Bellis”, Via Turi, 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy

    Maria Notarnicola, Angelica Miccolis, Valeria Tutino & Maria Gabriella Caruso

  2. Division of Surgery, National Institute for Digestive Diseases “S. de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy

    Dionigi Lorusso

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  1. Maria Notarnicola
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  2. Angelica Miccolis
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  3. Valeria Tutino
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  4. Dionigi Lorusso
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  5. Maria Gabriella Caruso
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Correspondence to Maria Notarnicola.

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Notarnicola, M., Miccolis, A., Tutino, V. et al. Low Levels of Lipogenic Enzymes in Peritumoral Adipose Tissue of Colorectal Cancer Patients. Lipids 47, 59–63 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-011-3630-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-011-3630-5

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