Oxford Lipid Metabolism Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford

 

Research at the Oxford Lipid Metabolism Group is targeted to further our understanding of the integration of whole body metabolic pathways of importance for obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. By studying adipose tissue in vivo and in situ, we can investigate the specific role of the tissue for fatty acid metabolic pathways and endocrine functions (Frayn KN et al., 1997). Complimentary techniques to study adipose tissue such as microdialysis and blood flow measurement have enabled detailed analysis of functional aspects of metabolism. Key measurements have included estimations of the action of lipoprotein lipase which have allowed us to determine fatty acid mobilisation and deposition in response to different nutritional stimuli and physiological conditions .

On-going projects can be summarised as follows:

# Mechanisms of adipose tissue blood flow regulation

# Specific dietary fatty acids and their effect on insulin secretion in humans

# Mechanisms of hypertriglyceridaemia in response to high-carbohydrate diets

# Fatty acid and adipose tissue metabolism in familial combined hyperlipidaemia

# Oro-sensory stimulation by food intake and its effect on lipid metabolism

# PPARgamma stimulation, adipose tissue gene expression and fatty acid metabolism

# Consequences of heterogeneity in genes expressed in adipose tissue

Some of these aspects are being intensively investigated through ‘Fatlink’ collaboration.

References

1. Evans K, Clark ML & Frayn KN (1999). Effects of an oral and intravenous fat load on adipose tissue and forearm lipid metabolism. American Journal of Physiology 276, E241-E248.


2. Fielding BA & Frayn KN (1998). Lipoprotein lipase and the disposition of dietary fatty acids. British Journal of Nutrition 80, 495-502.


3. Frayn KN, Fielding BA, Samra JA & Summers LK (1997). Extracellular metabolic regulation in adipose tissue in "Physiology, Stress and Malnutrition: Functional Correlates, Nutritional Intervention" edited by JM Kinney and HN Tucker, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, pp. 303-323.


4. Karpe F, Olivecrona T, Olivecrona G, Samra JS, Summers LK, Humphreys SM & Frayn KN (1998). Lipoprotein lipase transport in plasma: role of muscle and adipose tissues in regulation of plasma lipoprotein lipase concentrations. Journal of Lipid Research 39, 2387-2393.


5. Samra J, Clark M, Humphreys S, Macdonald I, Bannister P, DR Matthews & Frayn K (1999). Suppression of the nocturnal rise in growth hormone reduces subsequent lipolysis in subcutaneous adipose tissue. European Journal of Clinical Investigation 29, 1045-1052.


6. Summers LKM, Arner P, Ilic V, Clark ML, Humphreys SM & Frayn KN (1998). Adipose tissue metabolism in the postprandial period: microdialysis and arteriovenous techniques compared. American Journal of Physiology 274, E651-E655.


7. Summers LKM, Samra JS & Frayn KN (1999). Impaired postprandial tissue regulation of blood flow in insulin resistance: a determinant of cardiovascular risk? Atherosclerosis 147, 11-15.