Abstract 1892 Combined deletion of adipose tissue-specific Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and 2 protects mice against diet induced obesity

Stearoyl–CoA desaturase (SCD) is a central lipogenic enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) primarily oleate (C18:1) and palmitoleate (C16:1) which are integral parts of triglycerides, membrane phospholipids, cholesterol esters, and wax esters. Mice models in which either SCD1 or SCD2 was deleted globally were protected against diet induced obesity. However, adipose-specific SCD1 deletion did not protect mice against obesity probably due to compensation by adipose SCD2. We set out to investigate whether a combined deletion of SCD1 and SCD2 protects against obesity. We therefore fed mice that had a combined deletion of adipose tissue specific of SCD1 and SCD2 (½ AKO) with either a high carbohydrate or high fat diet for ∼19 weeks. All animal studies were conducted in accordance with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee guidelines at The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our results showed that ½ AKO mice were protected again adiposity as shown by lower weights of: epidydimal white adipose tissue (WAT), inguinal WAT and brown adipose tissue. Moreover, weekly body weight monitoring showed, the ½ AKO had lower body weights compared with their LOX control counterparts. These findings suggest that absence of SCD1 from the adipose tissue was compensated for by SCD2, and thus it requires a combined deletion of SCD1 and SCD2 in adipose tissue to protect against diet induced obesity. Funded by NIH.