Mechanism of impaired lipid homeostasis in MCPIP1‐deficienct mice

Abstract

BackgroundMonocyte chemotactic protein‐induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) is found in monocytes/macrophages in response to MCP‐1 stimulation. Our preliminary data showed that MCPIP1 knockout mice have increased plasma LDL cholesterol and decreased HDL and total triglycerides. We have also found that mice lacking MCPIP1 display a marked loss of adipose and muscle tissues. Our current project was designed to determine whether MCPIP1‐deficiency impairs lipid homeostasis by affecting the apoprotein expression hepatic remodeling.MethodsC57/BL6 mice at 6‐8 weeks of age were used. Liver histological changes and plasma apoprotein expression were examined in samples collected from wild‐type, heterozygous, and MCPIP1 knockout mice.Resultshepatic histological staining revealed an increase in collagen and fibrous tissue and a decrease in hepatocytes in MCPIP1 knockout mice. We also found that the expression of LPL, and apoB48 is increased but the apoB100 and apoA‐1 is decreased in the plasma from MCPIP1 knockout mice.ConclusionsThe data collected so far suggest that the impaired lipid homeostasis observed in MCPIP1 deficient mice may occur through hepatic remodeling and alteration of apoprotein expression and/or function.