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Intracellular calcium influences an array of pathways and affects cellular processes. With the rapidly progressing research investigating the molecular identity and the physiological roles of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) complex, we now have the tools to understand the functions of mitochondrial Ca2 + in the regulation of pathophysiological processes. Herein, we describe the role of key MCU complex components in insulin resistance in mouse and human adipose tissue. Adipose tissue gene expression was analyzed from several models of obese and diabetic rodents and in 72 patients with obesity as well as in vitro insulin-resistant adipocytes. Genetic manipulation of MCU activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes allowed the investigation of the role of mitochondrial calcium uptake. In insulin-resistant adipocytes, mitochondrial calcium uptake increased and several MCU components were upregulated. Similar results were observed in mouse and human visceral adipose tissue (VAT) during the progression of obesity and diabetes. Intriguingly, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was spared from overt MCU fluctuations. Furthermore, MCU expression returned to physiological levels in VAT of patients after weight loss by bariatric surgery. Genetic manipulation of mitochondrial calcium uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes demonstrated that changes in mitochondrial calcium concentration ([Ca2+]mt) can affect mitochondrial metabolism, including oxidative enzyme activity, mitochondrial respiration, membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species formation. Finally, our data suggest a strong relationship between [Ca2+]mt and the release of IL-6 and TNFa in adipocytes. Altered mitochondrial calcium flux in fat cells may play a role in obesity and diabetes and may be associated with the differential metabolic profiles of VAT and SAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE--Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) have been reported to be less obesogenic than long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs); however, relatively little is known regarding their effect on insulin action. Here, we examined the tissue-specific effects of MCFAs on lipid metabolism and insulin action. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--C57BL6/J mice and Wistar rats were fed either a low-fat control diet or high-fat diets rich in MCFAs or LCFAs for 4-5 weeks, and markers of mitochondrial oxidative capacity, lipid levels, and insulin action were measured. RESULTS--Mice fed the MCFA diet displayed reduced adiposity and better glucose tolerance than LCFA-fed animals. In skeletal muscle, triglyceride levels were increased by the LCFA diet (77%, P < 0.01) but remained at low-fat diet control levels in the MCFA-fed animals. The LCFA diet increased (20-50%, P < 0.05) markers of mitochondrial metabolism in muscle compared with low-fat diet-fed controls; however; the increase in oxidative capacity was substantially greater in MCFA-fed animals (50-140% versus low-fat-fed controls, P < 0.01). The MCFA diet induced a greater accumulation of liver triglycerides than the LCFA diet, likely due to an upregulation of several lipogenic enzymes. In rats, isocaloric feeding of MCFA or LCFA high-fat diets induced hepatic insulin resistance to a similar degree; however, insulin action was preserved at the level of low-fat diet-fed controls in muscle and adipose from MCFA-fed animals. CONCLUSIONS--MCFAs reduce adiposity and preserve insulin action in muscle and adipose, despite inducing steatosis and insulin resistance in the liver. Dietary supplementation with MCFAs may therefore be beneficial for preventing obesity and peripheral insulin resistance. Diabetes 58:2547-2554, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]