A stimulatory effect of FFA on glycolysis unmasked in cells with impaired oxidative capacity.

The physiological importance of the glucose fatty acid cycle has been controversial. Many studies have failed to demonstrate an inhibitory effect of free fatty acids (FFA) on glucose utilization. Using both hepatoma cells (Hep G2) and human erythrocytes, which have poor oxidative capacity and metabolize glucose primarily anaerobically, we have demonstrated a unique stimulatory effect of FFA on glycolysis. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-P2) concentrations also increased significantly in Hep G2 cells incubated with palmitic acid. In contrast, F-2,6-P2 concentrations fell in primary cultured hepatocytes incubated with palmitic acid in association with increased oxidation of FFA and accumulation of beta-hydroxybutyrate. We propose that a stimulatory effect of FFA on glycolysis reported here for the first time may have been masked in previous studies performed in tissues in which the oxidation of FFA and the accumulation of intermediates such as citrate may have decreased F-2,6-P2 concentrations. We conclude that the spectrum of FFA effects in glycolysis probably depends on tissue oxidative capacity.