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. 2007 May;56(5):1228-39.
doi: 10.2337/db06-1142. Epub 2007 Mar 16.

Loss of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 improves insulin sensitivity in lean mice but worsens diabetes in leptin-deficient obese mice

Jessica B Flowers  1 , Mary E Rabaglia, Kathryn L Schueler, Matthew T Flowers, Hong Lan, Mark P Keller, James M Ntambi, Alan D Attie
Affiliations

Loss of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 improves insulin sensitivity in lean mice but worsens diabetes in leptin-deficient obese mice

Jessica B Flowers et al. Diabetes. 2007 May.

Abstract

The lipogenic gene stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)1 appears to be a promising new target for obesity-related diabetes, as mice deficient in this enzyme are resistant to diet- and leptin deficiency-induced obesity. The BTBR mouse strain replicates many features of insulin resistance found in humans with excess visceral adiposity. Using the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique, we determined that insulin sensitivity was improved in heart, soleus muscle, adipose tissue, and liver of BTBR SCD1-deficient mice. We next determined whether SCD1 deficiency could prevent diabetes in leptin-deficient BTBR mice. Loss of SCD1 in leptin(ob/ob) mice unexpectedly accelerated the progression to severe diabetes; 6-week fasting glucose increased approximately 70%. In response to a glucose challenge, Scd1(-/-) leptin(ob/ob) mice had insufficient insulin secretion, resulting in glucose intolerance. A morphologically distinct class of islets isolated from the Scd1(-/-) leptin(ob/ob) mice had reduced insulin content and increased triglycerides, free fatty acids, esterified cholesterol, and free cholesterol and also a much higher content of saturated fatty acids. We believe the accumulation of lipid is due to an upregulation of lipoprotein lipase (20-fold) and Cd36 (167-fold) and downregulation of lipid oxidation genes in this class of islets. Therefore, although loss of Scd1 has beneficial effects on adiposity, this benefit may come at the expense of beta-cells, resulting in an increased risk of diabetes.

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