Albumin knockout mice exhibit reduced plasma free fatty acid concentration and enhanced insulin sensitivity

Circulating albumin is expected to play a significant role in the trafficking of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) between tissues, such as FFA transfer from adipose tissue to the liver. However, it was not yet known how disrupting FFA binding to albumin in circulation would alter lipid metabolism and any resulting impacts upon control of glycemia. To improve understanding of metabolic control, we aimed to determine whether lack of serum albumin would decrease plasma FFA, hepatic lipid storage, whole body substrate oxidation, and glucose metabolism. Male and female homozygous albumin knockout mice and C57BL/6J wild type controls, each on a standard diet containing a moderate fat content, were studied at 6-8 weeks of age. Indirect calorimetry, glucose tolerance testing, insulin tolerance testing, exercise performance, plasma proteome, and tissue analyses were performed. In both sexes of albumin knockout mice compared to the wild type mice, significant reductions (p < 0.05) were observed for plasma FFA concentration, hepatic triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol content, blood glucose during the glucose tolerance test, and blood glucose during the insulin tolerance test. Albumin deficiency did not reduce whole body fat oxidation over a 24-h period and did not alter exercise performance in an incremental treadmill test. The system-level phenotypic changes in lipid and glucose metabolism were accompanied by reduced hepatic perilipin-2 expression (p < 0.05), as well as increased expression of adiponectin (p < 0.05) and glucose transporter-4 (p < 0.05) in adipose tissue. The results indicate an important role of albumin and plasma FFA concentration in lipid metabolism and glucoregulation.