ANGPTL4 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as mediators of lipid homeostasis in different metabolic states

This thesis investigated the relationship between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), white adipose tissue (WAT) angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) expression, and metabolic state-dependent lipid homeostasis. C57BL/6J mice fed low-fat diets containing n-3 PUFA had reduced plasma NEFA and liver TAG accumulation in the fasted state, while in WAT, markers of lipogenesis were reduced, and markers of lipolysis were increased. Additionally, n-3 PUFA increased WAT Angptl4 gene expression. In contrast, n-3 PUFA reduced plasma TAG in the fed state but had no effect on Angptl4 gene expression. Collectively, this thesis suggests that n-3 PUFA regulate lipid metabolism in a metabolic-state dependent manner, and that these important fatty acids may work via differential regulation of Angptl4 in WAT.