The Role of Adipose Tissue in Insulin Resistance in Women of African Ancestry

• Published in: Journal of Obesity Vol. 2013; no. 2013; pp. 1017 - 1025
• Main Authors: Goedecke, Julia H., Levitt, Naomi S., Evans, Juliet, Ellman, Nicole, Hume, David John, Kotze, Liske, Tootla, Mehreen, Victor, Hendriena, Keswell, Dheshnie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01-01-2013; Hindawi Puplishing Corporation; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adipogenesis; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adipose Tissue - physiopathology; Adipose tissues; Africa - ethnology; African Continental Ancestry Group; Body Fat Distribution; Body Mass Index; Cell Hypoxia; Comparative analysis; Complications and side effects; Development and progression; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Female; Glucocorticoids - metabolism; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - physiology; Humans; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Lipolysis; Obesity; Oxidative Stress; Physiological aspects; Review; Risk factors; Type 2 diabetes; Africa; South Africa
• ISSN: 2090-0708; 2090-0716
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/952916

Women of African ancestry, particularly those living in industrialized countries, experience a disproportionately higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to their white counterparts. Similarly, obesity and insulin resistance, which are major risk factors for T2D, are greater in black compared to white women. The exact mechanisms underlying these phenomena are not known. This paper will focus on the role of adipose tissue biology. Firstly, the characteristic body fat distribution of women of African ancestry will be discussed, followed by the depot-specific associations with insulin resistance. Factors involved in adipose tissue biology and their relation to insulin sensitivity will then be explored, including the role of sex hormones, glucocorticoid metabolism, lipolysis and adipogenesis, and their consequent effects on adipose tissue hypoxia, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Finally the role of ectopic fat deposition will be discussed. The paper proposes directions for future research, in particular highlighting the need for longitudinal and/or intervention studies to better understand the mechanisms underlying the high prevalence of insulin resistance and T2D in women of African ancestry.