CD36 Gene Expression Inducedby Fish Oil in Abdominal AdiposeTissue of Rats with MetabolicSyndrome

Abstract

CD36 Gene Expression Induced by Fish Oil in Abdominal Adipose Tissue of Rats with Metabolic Syndrome Introduction: CD36 is a ubiquitously expressed transmembrane glycoprotein primarily localized in tissues with high levels of fatty acid oxidation. According to its broad binding specificity and signal transduction capabilities, CD36 is thought to be involved in several physiological and pathological events related to metabolic syndrome, which underlies diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, major causes of morbidity and mortality in most of the world. Objective and Method: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary fish oil (n-3 PUFAs) administration on adipose tissue CD36 mRNA expression levels in rats with metabolic syndrome induced by 30% sucrose administration in drinking water during 21 weeks. Results and Discussion: After dietary fish oil administration (6 weeks), lower blood pressure and serum concentrations of insulin, non-esterified fatty acids, triacylglycerols and HOMA-IR index were observed, in combination with increased expression levels of CD36 in adipose tissue which would result in enhanced fatty acids uptake, storage and oxidation and the consequent increase in insulin sensitivity. Conclusion: our results show that the overexpression of CD36 in adipocytes could be one of the mechanisms by which fish oil is beneficial to ameliorate metabolic syndrome, through the modulation of fatty acids metabolism.