Dietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating properties

Abstract Skin is a regulatory hub for energy expenditure and metabolism, and alteration of lipid metabolism enzymes in skin impacts thermogenesis and obesogenesis in mice. Here we show that thermal properties of skin are highly reactive to diet: within three days, a high fat diet reduces heat transf...

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Main Authors: Nick Riley, Ildiko Kasza, Isabel D. K. Hermsmeyer, Michaela E. Trautman, Greg Barrett-Wilt, Raghav Jain, Judith A. Simcox, Chi-Liang E. Yen, Ormond A. MacDougald, Dudley W. Lamming, Caroline M. Alexander
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59869-x
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author Nick Riley
Ildiko Kasza
Isabel D. K. Hermsmeyer
Michaela E. Trautman
Greg Barrett-Wilt
Raghav Jain
Judith A. Simcox
Chi-Liang E. Yen
Ormond A. MacDougald
Dudley W. Lamming
Caroline M. Alexander
author_facet Nick Riley
Ildiko Kasza
Isabel D. K. Hermsmeyer
Michaela E. Trautman
Greg Barrett-Wilt
Raghav Jain
Judith A. Simcox
Chi-Liang E. Yen
Ormond A. MacDougald
Dudley W. Lamming
Caroline M. Alexander
author_sort Nick Riley
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Skin is a regulatory hub for energy expenditure and metabolism, and alteration of lipid metabolism enzymes in skin impacts thermogenesis and obesogenesis in mice. Here we show that thermal properties of skin are highly reactive to diet: within three days, a high fat diet reduces heat transfer through skin. In contrast, a dietary manipulation that prevents obesity accelerates energy loss through skins. We find that skin is the largest target for dietary fat delivery, and that dietary triglyceride is assimilated by epidermis and dermal white adipose tissue, persisting for weeks after feeding. With caloric-restriction, mouse skins thin and assimilation of circulating lipids decreases. Using multi-modal lipid profiling, keratinocytes and sebocytes are implicated in lipid changes, which correlate with thermal function. We propose that skin should be routinely included in physiological studies of lipid metabolism, given the size of the skin lipid reservoir and its adaptable functionality.
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spelling doaj-art-c4f38bf4adaf4e1695bbe5b94feb83562025-08-20T03:53:57ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111710.1038/s41467-025-59869-xDietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating propertiesNick Riley0Ildiko Kasza1Isabel D. K. Hermsmeyer2Michaela E. Trautman3Greg Barrett-Wilt4Raghav Jain5Judith A. Simcox6Chi-Liang E. Yen7Ormond A. MacDougald8Dudley W. Lamming9Caroline M. Alexander10McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMcArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of MichiganDepartment of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-MadisonBiochemistry Mass Spectrometry CoreDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of MichiganDepartment of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMcArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-MadisonAbstract Skin is a regulatory hub for energy expenditure and metabolism, and alteration of lipid metabolism enzymes in skin impacts thermogenesis and obesogenesis in mice. Here we show that thermal properties of skin are highly reactive to diet: within three days, a high fat diet reduces heat transfer through skin. In contrast, a dietary manipulation that prevents obesity accelerates energy loss through skins. We find that skin is the largest target for dietary fat delivery, and that dietary triglyceride is assimilated by epidermis and dermal white adipose tissue, persisting for weeks after feeding. With caloric-restriction, mouse skins thin and assimilation of circulating lipids decreases. Using multi-modal lipid profiling, keratinocytes and sebocytes are implicated in lipid changes, which correlate with thermal function. We propose that skin should be routinely included in physiological studies of lipid metabolism, given the size of the skin lipid reservoir and its adaptable functionality.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59869-x
spellingShingle Nick Riley
Ildiko Kasza
Isabel D. K. Hermsmeyer
Michaela E. Trautman
Greg Barrett-Wilt
Raghav Jain
Judith A. Simcox
Chi-Liang E. Yen
Ormond A. MacDougald
Dudley W. Lamming
Caroline M. Alexander
Dietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating properties
Nature Communications
title Dietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating properties
title_full Dietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating properties
title_fullStr Dietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating properties
title_full_unstemmed Dietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating properties
title_short Dietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating properties
title_sort dietary lipids are largely deposited in skin and rapidly affect insulating properties
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59869-x
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