Enzymatic activity and genetic variation in SCD1 modulate the relationship between fatty acids and inflammation

• Published in: Molecular genetics and metabolism Vol. 105; no. 3; pp. 421 - 427
• Main Authors: Stryjecki, Carolina, Roke, Kaitlin, Clarke, Shannon, Nielsen, Daiva, Badawi, Alaa, El-Sohemy, Ahmed, Ma, David W.L., Mutch, David M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Adult; C-Reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; enzyme activity; Fatty Acids - blood; Fatty Acids - immunology; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - blood; Female; females; gas chromatography; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - genetics; Male; males; metabolism; Monounsaturated fatty acids; Oleic Acid - blood; Palmitic Acid - blood; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Saturated fatty acids; single nucleotide polymorphism; Single nucleotide polymorphisms; Stearic Acids - blood; Stearoyl-CoA desaturase; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase - genetics; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase - metabolism; Young Adult; young adults; CRP; TLR-4; MUFA; Stearoyl-CoA desaturase; Inflammation; SFA; TNH; C-Reactive protein; FFQ; HOMA-IR; Monounsaturated fatty acids; MAF; HWE; SNPs; FA; SCD1; tSNPs; Single nucleotide polymorphisms; Saturated fatty acids; BMI
• ISSN: 1096-7192; 1096-7206; 1096-7206
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2011.12.003

Fatty acids (FA) represent a diverse class of molecules known to regulate inflammatory pathways. Therefore enzymes that regulate FA metabolism are attractive candidates to better understand the relationship between FA and inflammation. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is rate limiting for the conversion of saturated FA (SFA) to monounsaturated FA (MUFA). Evidence suggests that SCD1 activity may be positively associated with inflammation. Moreover, genetic variation in SCD1 may alter enzyme activity; however, it is unknown whether this affects inflammatory status. The goal of this study was to examine the relationships between plasma FA, SCD1 activity, and SCD1 polymorphisms with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in young adults. SFA, MUFA, and CRP were measured in fasted plasma samples from European (n=279, 198 female and 81 male) and Asian (n=249, 179 female and 70 male) subjects, 20–29years old. Circulating levels of palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (16:1), stearic (18:0), and oleic acids (18:1) were measured by gas chromatography and SCD1 activity was estimated by the ratio of product to precursor (16:1/16:0; 18:1/18:0). Positive associations were identified between CRP levels and 16:0 (p<2.0×10−4), 16:1 (p<0.05), and the SCD1 index (18:1/18:0; p<6.0×10−3) in European and Asian females, while 18:0 was inversely associated with CRP (p<2.0×10−4) in both groups. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SCD1 were genotyped in all subjects. One SNP (rs2060792) was associated (p<0.05) with 16:0 and 18:0 levels in females of European descent. This same SNP was also associated with CRP levels in both groups of females (p<0.05). Overall, SCD1 activity and genetic variation have an important role in modulating the relationship between FA and inflammation in young adults. ► SCD1 activity and SCD1 SNPs modulate the relationship between fatty acids and inflammation. ► Young men and women of European and Asian descent from the TNH cohort were studied. ► Plasma 16:0, 16:1, 18:0, and SCD1 indices were associated with CRP in females. ► The rs2060792 SNP near SCD1 was associated with 16:0, 18:0, and CRP in females. ► No significant relationships were found in men.