Key lipogenic gene expression can be decreased by estrogen in human adipose tissue

Objective: To characterize the molecular mechanisms by which estrogens reduce adipose tissue mass, with particular focus on genes involved in lipogenesis. Design: This study involves one arm of an open randomized clinical study with parallel group comparison. Setting: Women's health clinical research unit at a university hospital and a university research laboratory. Patient(s): Samples from ten naturally postmenopausal women are included in the study. Intervention(s): The participants were studied before and after 3 months of treatment with estradiol valerate (2 mg daily). Main Outcome Measure(s): Affymetrix gene chips were used to study changes in gene expression upon estrogen treatment in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. Result(s): Genes involved in fatty acid synthesis, such as stearoyl-CoA desaturase, fatty acid synthase, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha, and fatty acid desaturase 1 were decreased by estrogen treatment in a subgroup of women. Changes in the expression of these genes were correlated to changes in plasma triglyceride levels. Another gene decreased by estrogen treatment was peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG). Conclusion(s): Key lipogenic genes and the important adipogenic gene PPARG can be regulated by estrogen in human abdominal adipose tissue, which could be relevant for increased adiposity following menopause.