expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue is related to body fat distribution in women, and knockdown impairs preadipocyte differentiation.

Oestrogen receptor 2 () expression has been shown to be higher in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women. The functional significance of altered expression is not fully known. This study investigates the role of for adipose tissue lipid and glucose metabolism. SAT biopsies were obtained from 44 female subjects with or without T2D. Gene expression of and markers of adipose function and metabolism was assessed. knockdown was performed using CRISPR/Cas9 in preadipocytes isolated from SAT of females, and differentiation rate, lipid storage, and glucose uptake were measured. expression was inversely correlated with measures of central obesity and expression of some fatty acid oxidation markers, and positively correlated with lipid storage and glucose transport markers. Differentiation was reduced in knockdown preadipocytes. This corresponded to reduced expression of markers of differentiation and lipogenesis. Glucose uptake was reduced in knockdown adipocytes.Our results indicate that deficiency in women is associated with visceral adiposity and impaired subcutaneous adipocyte differentiation as well as glucose and lipid utilization. High expression, as seen after menopause, could be a contributing factor to SAT expansion. This may support a possible target to promote a healthy obesity phenotype.