Lipoprotein Lipase Production Research Articles

Adropin induction of lipoprotein lipase expression in tilapia hepatocytes

The peptide hormone adropin plays a role in energy homeostasis. However, biological actions of adropin in non-mammalian species are still lacking. Using tilapia as a model, we examined the role of adropin in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) regulation in hepatocytes. To this end, the structural identity of tilapia adropin was established by 5'/3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The transcripts of tilapia adropin were ubiquitously expressed in various tissues with the highest levels in the liver and hypothalamus. The prolonged fasting could elevate tilapia hepatic adropin gene expression, whereas no effect of fasting was observed on hypothalamic adropin gene levels. In primary cultures of tilapia hepatocytes, synthetic adropin was effective in stimulating LPL release, cellular LPL content, and total LPL production. The increase in LPL production also occurred with parallel rises in LPL gene levels. In parallel experiments, adropin could elevate cAMP production and up-regulate protein kinase A (PKA) and PKC activities. Using a pharmacological approach, cAMP/PKA and PLC/inositol trisphosphate (IP3)/PKC cascades were shown to be involved in adropin-stimulated LPL gene expression. Parallel inhibition of p38MAPK and Erk1/2, however, were not effective in these regards. Our findings provide, for the first time, evidence that adropin could stimulate LPL gene expression via direct actions in tilapia hepatocytes through the activation of multiple signaling mechanisms.

Heparanase shakes hands with lipoprotein lipase: a tale of two cells.

Altered metabolism with excess provision of lipid substrates may be a major pathogenetic factor linking diabetes with cardiovascular disease—lipoprotein lipase (LPL) being one facilitator of such a process (1,2). Hyperlipidemia, by itself, plays a major role in lipid-provoked cardiovascular pathologies, largely mediated through LPL (3). Under physiological state, due to their presence on the endothelial cell surface, LPLs break down triglyceride lipoproteins in the circulation and provide tissues, like heart and skeletal muscle, with the required fatty acid substrates to derive ATP (3,4). A large volume of data, using genetically manipulated animal models and clinical studies, has found that LPL homeostasis is required for normal cardiac metabolism and function (5,6). In diabetes, increased metabolic demand of the heart is met by the breakdown of fatty acids by coronary LPL. LPL is produced by cardiomyocytes, which need endothelial-derived heparanase for LPL production. In this issue, Wang et al. (7) demonstrated that endothelial heparanase is taken up by the cardiomyocytes through caveolae and is converted to an active form in the lysosomal compartments of these cells. Endothelium-derived heparanase is instrumental for cleaving and releasing LPL from the heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cardiomyocyte cell surface. Activated heparanase further translocates in the nucleus, increases histone acetylation, and augments matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) production. Although this is an adaptive mechanism, increased MMP-9 may …

Atorvastatin and pitavastatin enhance lipoprotein lipase production in L6 skeletal muscle cells through activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase

Pravastatin and atorvastatin increase the serum level of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mass in vivo but do not increase LPL activity in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in vitro. LPL is mainly produced by adipose tissue and skeletal muscle cells. Metformin enhances LPL in skeletal muscle through adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation but not in adipocytes. This study aimed to examine the effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) on LPL production and to investigate the mechanism by which statins enhance skeletal muscle cell LPL production. L6 skeletal muscle cells were incubated with pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin or pitavastatin. LPL activity, protein levels and mRNA expression were measured. Atorvastatin and pitavastatin significantly increased LPL activity, protein levels and mRNA expression in L6 skeletal muscle cells at 1μmol/L, but neither statin had an effect at 10μmol/L. We measured AMPK to clarify the mechanism by which statins increase LPL production in skeletal muscle cells. At 1μmol/L, both atorvastatin and pitavastatin enhanced AMPK activity, but this enhancement was abolished when AMPK signaling was blocked by compound C. The increased expressions of LPL protein and mRNA by atorvastatin and pitavastatin were reduced by compound C. In addition, mevalonic acid abolished atorvastatin- and pitavastatin-induced AMPK activation and LPL expression. These results suggest that atorvastatin and pitavastatin increase LPL activity, protein levels and LPL mRNA expression by activating AMPK in skeletal muscle cells.

Seasonal and nutrients intake regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in grazing yak ( Bos grunniens) in the Alpine Regions around Qinghai Lake

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is considered as a key enzyme in the lipid deposition and metabolism in tissues. To better understand fat cycling in grazing yak to adapt to the harsh environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and we have therefore explored seasonal and nutritional regulation of LPL in adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle. Sixty 3 year old growing yaks (BW. 120.3 ± 15.28 kg) were subdivided into six groups, each used to determine effects on chemical body composition and LPL activity in different tissues. The alpine pastures had the highest Crude protein (CP, 11.06%) contents and the gross energy (GE, 11.49 MJ/kg) in summer. Growth rates and body fat content were responsive to CP and GE intake regimen. Late spring up-regulation of LPL activity in the subcutaneous adipose tissue was consistent with a pronounced increase of body weight (BW) and whole body fat content. The highest LPL activity in the skeletal muscle was found in September (774 ± 64.1 mU/g tissue), which may serve to cover the increased energy demands for compensatory growth and maintenance of adiposity in the coming cold season. Furthermore, the seasonal regulation of LPL involves some factors in addition to insulin and triglycerides (TG). These results suggest that yaks could rely, in part, on LPL activity to adapt to the harsh forage environment. During the growing season, an enhanced synthesis of LPL production in the adipose tissues along with mechanisms for the recycling of fat contributes toward the rapid recovery of body weight.

Metformin promotes induction of lipoprotein lipase in skeletal muscle through activation of adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase

Metformin is known to increase lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mass level in serum. Lipoprotein lipase is produced by adipose tissue and skeletal muscles. This study aimed to examine the effect of metformin on LPL production in adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells and to investigate the mechanism by which metformin enhances LPL production. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and L6 skeletal muscle cells were incubated with metformin or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR). Lipoprotein lipase activity, LPL protein expression, and LPL messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were measured. Metformin increased LPL activity only in skeletal muscle cells. To clarify the mechanism of this phenomenon, AICAR, which is well known as an activator of adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK), was used. Metformin and AICAR enhanced phosphorylated AMPK in skeletal muscle cells by Western blot analysis. Like metformin, AICAR increased LPL activity only in skeletal muscle cells. Both metformin and AICAR also enhanced LPL protein and LPL mRNA expressions in skeletal muscle cells but not in adipocytes. Phosphorylated AMPK protein expression was decreased when AMPK signaling was interfered by AMPK α small interfering RNA. Lipoprotein lipase activity and LPL expression, which were enhanced by 1 μmol/L metformin, were reduced by AMPK α small interfering RNA. These results suggest that metformin increases LPL activity, LPL protein expression, and LPL mRNA expression through activation of AMPK in skeletal muscle cells but not in adipocytes.

The angiotensin II receptor antagonist valsartan enhances lipoprotein lipase mass in preheparin serum in type 2 diabetes with hypertension

Recent studies suggest that blockade of angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor may have some effect on glucose and lipoprotein metabolism. Serum level of preheparin lipoprotein lipase (LPL) reflects LPL production mainly in adipocytes and is believed to be related to insulin sensitivity. We studied the effect of a selective AT1 antagonist, valsartan, on glucose, lipid metabolism and the preheparin LPL mass in 55 patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Patients were randomized into a group administered valsartan 80 mg/day for 12 weeks or a group not administered valsartan (control). Blood pressure decreased significantly. HbA1c and TG levels decreased and HDL-C level increased, but these changes tended to be significantly different. TC and LDL-C levels were not significant changes. Preheparin LPL mass increased after valsartan administration compared with control ( P = 0.0307), and migration ratio of LDL (LDL- R m), which correlated negatively with LDL particle size, decreased compared with control ( P < 0.0001). ΔLDL- R m correlated inversely with Δpreheparin LPL mass ( r = −0.459). Among subjects treated with valsartan, greater improvement in preheparin LPL mass and blood pressure was observed in the subgroup with preheparin LPL mass <40 ng/ml. The results of this study suggest that valsartan may enhance LPL production in adipocytes, resulting in enlarged LDL particle size.

Th-P15:29 Metformin increases lipoprotein lipase production in skeletal muscle through activated AMP-activated protein kinase

Th-P15:29 Metformin increases lipoprotein lipase production in skeletal muscle through activated AMP-activated protein kinase

Advanced Glycation End-Products Attenuate Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Prevent Cognate Differentiation Into Adipose Tissue, Cartilage, and Bone

The impact of AGEs on human MSCs was studied. AGEs inhibited the proliferation of MSCs, induced apoptosis, and prevented cognate differentiation into adipose tissue, cartilage, and bone, suggesting a deleterious effect of AGEs in the pathogenesis of musculoskeletal disorders in aged and diabetic patients. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are accumulated on long-lived proteins of various tissues in advanced age and diabetes mellitus and have been implicated in chronic complication, including musculoskeletal disorders. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) potentially differentiate into mature musculoskeletal tissues during tissue repair, but the pathogenetic role of AGEs on MSCs is unclear. AGEs were prepared by incubating BSA with glucose, glyceraldehydes, or glycolaldehyde (designated as AGE-1, AGE-2, or AGE-3, respectively). Proliferation, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were assayed in AGE-treated cells. The expression of the receptor for AGE (RAGE) was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Involvement of RAGE-mediated signaling was examined using a neutralizing antiserum against RAGE. Differentiation into adipose tissue, cartilage, and bone were morphologically and biochemically monitored with specific markers for each. AGE-2 and AGE-3, but not control nonglycated BSA and AGE-1, reduced the viable cell number and 5-bromo-2'deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation with increased intracellular ROS generation and the percentage of apoptotic cells. MSCs expressed RAGE and its induction was stimulated by AGE-2 and AGE-3. These AGEs inhibited adipogenic differentiation (assayed by oil red O staining, lipoprotein lipase production, and intracellular triglyceride content) and chondrogenic differentiation (assayed by safranin O staining and type II collagen production). On osteogenic differentiation, AGE-2 and AGE-3 increased alkaline phosphatase activity and intracellular calcium content; however, von Kossa staining revealed the loss of mineralization and mature bone nodule formation. The antiserum against RAGE partially prevented AGE-induced cellular events. AGE-2 and AGE-3 may lead to the in vivo loss of MSC mass and the delay of tissue repair by inhibiting the maturation of MSC-derived cells. The AGE-RAGE interaction may be involved in the deleterious effect of AGEs on MSCs.

Lipoprotein lipase-dependent binding and uptake of low density lipoproteins by THP-1 monocytes and macrophages: possible involvement of lipid rafts

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is produced by cells in the artery wall and can mediate binding of lipoproteins to cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG), resulting in endocytosis (the bridging function). Active, dimeric LPL may dissociate to inactive monomers, the main form found in plasma. We have studied binding/internalization of human low density lipoprotein (LDL), mediated by bovine LPL, using THP-1 monocytes and macrophages. Uptake of 125I-LDL was similar in monocytes and macrophages and was not affected by the LDL-receptor family antagonist receptor-associated protein (RAP) or by the phagocytosis inhibitor cytochalasin D. In contrast, uptake depended on HSPG and on membrane cholesterol. Incubation in the presence of dexamethasone increased the endogenous production of LPL by the cells and also increased LPL-mediated binding of LDL to the cell surfaces. Monomeric LPL was bound to the cells mostly in a heparin-resistant fashion. We conclude that the uptake of LDL mediated by LPL dimers is receptor-independent and involves cholesterol-enriched membrane areas (lipid rafts). Dimeric and monomeric LPL differ in their ability to mediate binding/uptake of LDL, probably due to different mechanisms for binding/internalization.

Lipoprotein lipase mRNA in white adipose tissue but not in skeletal muscle is increased by pioglitazone through PPAR-γ

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), a key enzyme for triglyceride hydrolysis, is an insulin-dependent enzyme and mainly synthesized in white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscles (SM). To explore how pioglitazone, an enhancer of insulin action, affects LPL synthesis, we examined the effect of pioglitazone on LPL mRNA levels in WAT or SM of brown adipose tissue (BAT)-deficient mice, which develop insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia. Both LPL mRNA of WAT and SM were halved in BAT-deficient mice. Pioglitazone increased LPL mRNA in WAT by 8-fold, which was substantially associated with a 4-fold increase of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-γ mRNA ( r=0.97, p<0.0001 ), whereas pioglitazone did not affect LPL mRNA in SM. These results suggest that pioglitazone exclusively increases LPL production in WAT via stimulation of PPAR-γ synthesis. Since pioglitazone does not affect LPL production in SM, this would contribute to prevent the development of insulin resistance due to lipotoxicity.

Clinical features of a young Japanese woman having marked obesity and abrupt onset of diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis

The subject was a 26-year-old Japanese woman of 148 cm height, 96.2 kg of body weight (BW) (body mass index (BMI) of 43.8 kg/m 2). She was referred to our hospital on May 1, 2000 for the evaluation of marked hyperglycemia with clinical symptom of general malaise, polydipsia, and ketonuria (3+). She did not smoke, or drink alcohol. But, she tended to eat lots of sweet food every day before the onset of this symptom. Her father was diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. Her fasting plasma glucose and HbA 1c, and serum C-peptide were 398 mg/dl, 7.8% and less than 0.05 ng/ml [normal range: 0.94–2.8], respectively. She tested negative for anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies and islet-cell antibodies. C-peptide level in her urine was as low as 3.4 μg/day. We immediately started insulin treatment under the diagnosis of abrupt onset of diabetes mellitus with diabetic ketoacidosis on the day of her admission, and the insulin treatment was continued after her being discharged. She showed continuous BW reduction until her BW reached approximately 60 kg, followed by her BW being plateau. During the period, intra-abdominal visceral fat (VF) and subcutaneous fat (SF) volume assessed by helical computerized tomography (CT) showed a substantial reduction [3.9–0.5 l for VF, 19–3.2 l for SF volume]. Pre-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mass showed a considerably lower value when she had continuous BW reduction than did it when her BW reduction discontinued. These findings suggest that in this subject, continuous BW reduction after the abrupt onset of diabetes is closely associated with intra-abdominal fat mass reduction, which may be related to decreased production of LPL.

Direct regulatory effect of fatty acids on macrophage lipoprotein lipase: potential role of PPARs.

Atherosclerosis is a major complication of type 2 diabetes. The pathogenesis of this complication is poorly understood, but it clearly involves production in the vascular wall of macrophage (Mo) lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Mo LPL is increased in human diabetes. Peripheral factors dysregulated in diabetes, including glucose and free fatty acids (FAs), may contribute to this alteration. We previously reported that high glucose stimulates LPL production in both J774 murine and human Mo. In the present study, we evaluated the direct effect of FAs on murine Mo LPL expression and examined the involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in this effect. J774 Mo were cultured for 24 h with 0.2 mmol/l unsaturated FAs (arachidonic [AA], eicosapentaenoic [EPA], and linoleic acids [LA]) and monounsaturated (oleic acid [OA]) and saturated FAs (palmitic acid [PA] and stearic acid [SA]) bound to 2% bovine serum albumin. At the end of this incubation period, Mo LPL mRNA expression, immunoreactive mass, activity, and synthetic rate were measured. Incubation of J774 cells with LA, PA, and SA significantly increased Mo LPL mRNA expression. In contrast, exposure of these cells to AA and EPA dramatically decreased this parameter. All FAs, with the exception of EPA and OA, increased extra- and intracellular LPL immunoreactive mass and activity. Intracellular LPL mass and activity paralleled extracellular LPL mass and activity in all FA-treated cells. In Mo exposed to AA, LA, and PA, an increase in Mo LPL synthetic rate was observed. To evaluate the role of PPARs in the modulatory effect of FAs on Mo LPL gene expression, DNA binding assays were performed. Results of these experiments demonstrate an enhanced binding of nuclear proteins extracted from all FA-treated Mo to the peroxisome proliferator-response element (PPRE) consensus sequence of the LPL promoter. PA-, SA-, and OA-stimulated binding activity was effectively diminished by immunoprecipitation of the nuclear proteins with anti-PPAR-alpha antibodies. In contrast, anti-PPAR-gamma antibodies only significantly decreased AA-induced binding activity. Overall, these results provide the first evidence for a direct regulatory effect of FAs on Mo LPL and suggest a potential role of PPARs in the regulation of Mo LPL gene expression by FAs.

Role of macrophage-derived lipoprotein lipase in lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) synthesis by macrophages is upregulated in early atherogenesis, implicating the possible involvement of LPL in plaque formation. However, it is still unclear whether macrophage-derived LPL displays a proatherosclerotic or an antiatherosclerotic role in atherosclerotic lesion development. In this study, the role of macrophage-derived LPL on lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis was assessed in vivo by transplantation of LPL-deficient (LPL-/-) and wild-type (LPL+/+) bone marrow into C57BL/6 mice. Eight weeks after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), serum cholesterol levels in LPL-/--->C57BL/6 mice were reduced by 8% compared with those in LPL+/+-->C57BL/6 mice (P:<0.05, n=16), whereas triglycerides were increased by 33% (P:<0.05, n=16). Feeding the mice a high-cholesterol diet increased serum cholesterol levels in LPL-/--->C57BL/6 and LPL+/+-->C57BL/6 mice 5-fold and 9-fold, respectively, resulting in a difference of approximately 50% (P:<0. 01) after 3 months on the diet. No effects on triglyceride levels were observed under these conditions. Furthermore, serum apolipoprotein E levels were reduced by 50% in the LPL-/--->C57BL/6 mice compared with controls under both dietary conditions. After 3 months on a high-cholesterol diet, the atherosclerotic lesion area in LPL-/--->C57BL/6 mice was reduced by 52% compared with controls. It can be concluded that macrophage-derived LPL plays a significant role in the regulation of serum cholesterol, apolipoprotein E, and atherogenesis, suggesting that specific blockade of macrophage LPL production may be beneficial for decreasing atherosclerotic lesion development.

Increased Intracellular Triglyceride in C2C12 Muscle Cells Transfected with Human Lipoprotein Lipase

Much of the knowledge about the cell biology of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in vitro has been gained from adipose tissue model systems. However, the importance of skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase (SMLPL) to both lipoprotein and muscle metabolism remains unclear. Although the production of LPL in cultured myocytes has been documented, the amount of enzyme activity produced is small. To develop a more suitable tissue culture model for SMLPL, mouse C2C12 myoblasts were stably transduced with a retroviral vector encoding the full-length human LPL (hLPL) cDNA. Control cells were transduced with a vector encoding β-galactosidase. LPL expression was assayed as a function of cell growth by measuring LPL activity on days 3, 7, 9, 11, and 14 after subculture. The hLPL-transduced myoblasts increasingly overexpressed both heparin-releasable (HR) and intracellular (IN) LPL activity compared to nontransduced myoblasts (P < 0.001 at Day 11) and myoblasts transduced with the control vector (P < 0.001 at Day 11). This increase occurred while LPL mRNA levels remained stable between days 3 and 14. As expected, IN LPL activity was also increased in the transduced cells. High levels of LPL activity were also obtained after differentiating the C2C12 cells into myotubes by serum deprivation. Additionally, throughout the time course, C2/LPL cells had greater amounts of intracellular triglyceride than both the C2C12 and the C2/β-GEO cells (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively) with the largest differences seen on day 14 of the time course (P = 0.001, C2/LPL vs C2C12r or C2/β-GEO cells). Thus, C2C12 myoblasts stably transduced with hLPL markedly overexpressed both HR and IN LPL activity compared to control cells which, in turn, was associated with increases in intracellular triglyceride content. Because LPL regulation in tissues is mostly posttranslational, this new in vitro model will permit the in-depth study of the posttranslational regulation of SMLPL and provide new insights into the fate of lipoprotein-derived fatty acids in muscle.

Upregulation of macrophage lipoprotein lipase in patients with type 2 diabetes: role of peripheral factors.

Atherosclerosis is the major complication of diabetes. Accumulating evidence indicates that lipoprotein lipase (LPL) produced by macrophages in the vascular wall may favor the development of atherosclerosis by promoting lipid accumulation within the lesion. We previously demonstrated that high glucose stimulates in vitro murine and human macrophage LPL production. In this study, we measured macrophage LPL mRNA expression, immunoreactive mass, and activity in normotriglyceridemic subjects with type 2 diabetes. Monocytes isolated from healthy control subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes were differentiated into macrophages in RPMI medium containing 20% autologous serum. After 5 days in culture, macrophage LPL mRNA expression, mass, and activity were determined. Macrophages of diabetic patients cultured in their own sera showed a significant increase in LPL mRNA levels, mass, and activity compared with macrophages of control subjects. Differentiation of macrophages of diabetic patients in sera obtained from control subjects significantly reduced these anomalies. Conversely, culturing macrophages of control subjects in sera of diabetic patients significantly increased LPL mass and activity in these cells. Besides LPL overproduction, macrophages of diabetic patients exhibited an increase in basal and LPL-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha release. TNF-alpha alterations were reduced by exposing these cells to sera of control subjects. Overall, these data demonstrate that macrophages of diabetic patients overexpress LPL and TNF-alpha and that peripheral factors dysregulated in diabetes are, at least in part, responsible for these alterations.

Nutritional regulation of binding sites for lipoprotein lipase in rat heart.

Several laboratories have shown that when rats are fasted, the amount of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) at the vascular endothelium in heart (monitored as the amount released by heparin) increases severalfold without corresponding changes in the production of LPL. This suggests that there is a change in endothelial binding of LPL. To study this, (125)I-labeled bovine LPL was injected. The fraction that bound in the heart was more than twice as high in fasted than in fed rats, 4.3% compared with 1.9% of the injected dose. Refeeding reversed this in 5 h. When unlabeled LPL was injected before the tracer, the fraction of (125)I-LPL that bound in heart decreased, indicating that the binding was saturable. When isolated hearts were perfused at 4 degrees C with a single pass of labeled LPL, twice as much bound in hearts of fasted rats. We conclude that fasting causes a change in the vascular endothelium in heart such that its ability to bind LPL increases.

Combined lipase deficiency ( cld/cld) in mice affects differently post-translational processing of lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase and pancreatic lipase

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL), which act on plasma lipoproteins, belong to the same gene family as pancreatic lipase. LPL is synthesized in heart, muscle and adipose tissue, while HL is synthesized primarily in liver. LPL is also synthesized in liver of newborn rodents. The active form of LPL is a dimer, whereas that of HL has not been established. Combined lipase deficiency (CLD) is an autosomal recessive mutation ( cld) in mice which impairs post-translational processing of LPL and HL. Cld/cld mice have very low LPL and HL activities (<5% of normal), yet normal pancreatic lipase activity. They develop massive hypertriglyceridemia and die within 3 days after birth. The CLD mutation allows synthesis, glycosylation and dimerization of LPL, but blocks activation and secretion of the lipase. Thus, dimerization per se does not result in production of active LPL. Immunofluoresence studies showed that LPL is retained in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in cld/cld cells. Translocation of Golgi components to ER by treatment with brefeldin A (BRA) enabled synthesis of active LPL in cultured cld/cld brown adipocytes. Thus, production of inactive LPL in cld/cld cells results from inability of the cells to transport LPL from ER. The CLD mutation allows synthesis and glycosylation of HL, but blocks activation of the lipase. Immunofluoresence studies located HL mostly outside of cells in liver, liver cell cultures and incubated adrenal tissue of normal and cld/cld mice and mostly inside of cells in liver cell cultures and adrenal tissues treated with monensin (to block secretion of protein). These findings demonstrate synthesis and secretion of HL by both liver and adrenal cells of normal and cld/cld mice. Thus, the CLD mutation allows secretion of inactive HL by liver and adrenals. However, it does not block synthesis or secretion of active pancreatic lipase. Our findings indicate that LPL, HL and pancreatic lipase, although closely related, are processed differently.

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of human lipoprotein lipase ameliorates the hyperlipidemias associated with apolipoprotein E and LDL receptor deficiencies in mice.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the hydrolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. We tested the efficacy of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of LPL as treatment of experimental hyperlipidemias associated with apolipoprotein (apoE) deficiency (apoE-/-) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) deficiency (LDLr-/-) in mice. Replication-defective adenovirus containing the human LPL cDNA driven by a cytomegalovirus promoter (Ad.hLPL) efficiently transduced CHO-ldlA7 cells in vitro, inducing in these cells the production of bioactive LPL (73 mU/ml). Intravenous injection of Ad.hLPL (2 x 10(9) pfu) led to high-level expression of hLPL mRNA and LPL activity in the liver (88.3 mU/ml) and in post-heparin plasma (116.1 mU/ml). Overexpression of LPL resulted in marked reductions in total plasma cholesterol (TC; 48%, 43%, 25%) and triglycerides (TTg; 63%, 40%, 70%, p < 0.01) in apoE-/-, LDLr-/-, and wild-type (WT) mice, respectively. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) fractionation of plasma lipoproteins showed a marked decrease in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)/chylomicron remnant cholesterol (V/CR-C) in apoE-/- (83%), LDLr-/- (84%), and WT mice (58%, p < 0.01). VLDL/chylomicron remnant triglycerides (V/CR-Tg) were virtually eliminated in apoE-/- (92%), LDLr-/- (86%), and WT mice (84%, p < 0.05). No significant changes were detected in LPL activities, plasma lipids, or lipoproteins of mice injected with a control virus, Ad.Luc, containing the luciferase instead of the LPL cDNA. In summary, infusion of Ad.hLPL leads to increased liver and post-heparin plasma LPL activities, significantly reduced TC, TTg, V/CR-C, and V/CR-Tg in WT mice, as well as in mice with apoE and LDLr deficiencies. Adenovirus-mediated LPL gene transfer to the liver is an effective means of reversing many of the lipoprotein abnormalities in apoE- and LDLr-deficient mice.

PPARalpha and PPARgamma activators direct a distinct tissue-specific transcriptional response via a PPRE in the lipoprotein lipase gene.

Increased activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) may explain the hypotriglyceridemic effects of fibrates, thiazolidinediones and fatty acids, which are known activators (and/or ligands) of the various peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Treatment with compounds which activate preferentially PPARalpha, such as fenofibrate, induced LPL expression exclusively in rat liver. In contrast, the antidiabetic thiazolidinedione BRL 49653, a high affinity ligand for PPARgamma, had no effect on liver, but induced LPL expression in rat adipose tissue. In the hepatocyte cell line AML-12, fenofibric acid, but not BRL 49653, induced LPL mRNA, whereas in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, the PPARgamma ligand induced LPL mRNA levels much quicker and to a higher extent than fenofibric acid. In both the in vivo and in vitro studies, inducibility by either PPARalpha or gamma activators, correlated with the tissue distribution of the respective PPARs: an adipocyte-restricted expression of PPARgamma, whereas PPARalpha was expressed predominantly in liver. A sequence element was identified in the human LPL promoter that mediates the functional responsiveness to fibrates and thiazolidinediones. Methylation interference and gel retardation assays demonstrated that a PPARalpha or gamma and the 9-cis retinoic acid receptor (RXR) heterodimers bind to this sequence -169 TGCCCTTTCCCCC -157. These data provide evidence that transcriptional activation of the LPL gene by fibrates and thiazolidinediones is mediated by PPAR-RXR heterodimers and contributes significantly to their hypotriglyceridemic effects in vivo. Whereas thiazolidinediones predominantly affect adipocyte LPL production through activation of PPARgamma, fibrates exert their effects mainly in the liver via activation of PPARalpha.

Brefeldin A enables synthesis of active lipoprotein lipase in cld/cld and castanospermine-treated mouse brown adipocytes via translocation of Golgi components to endoplasmic reticulum.

Brown adipocytes cultured from newborn combined-lipase-deficient (cld/cld) mice and castanospermine (CST)-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes synthesize lipoprotein lipase (LPL) which is inactive and retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) [Masuno, Blanchette-Mackie, Chernick and Scow (1990) J.Biol. Chem. 265, 1628-1638; Masuno, Blanchette-Mackie, Schultz, Spaeth, Scow and Okuda (1992) J. Lipid Res.33, 1343-1349]. Brefeldin A (BFA), which is known to block protein transport from ER and translocate Golgi components to ER, was used here to study the effect of translocated Golgi enzymes on LPL retained in ER of cld/cld and CST-treated mouse brown adipocytes. Brown adipocytes cultured from newborn normal mice contained 3000-5000 m-units of LPL activity/mg of DNA and secreted 35 m-units of LPL activity/mg of DNA per h. BFA at 10 micrograms/ml doubled LPL activity in normal cells within 2 h as it stopped completely secretion of active LPL. LPL in mouse cells has two N-oligosaccharide chains per subunit. Analyses with SDS/PAGE and immunoblotting showed that about one-third of LPL subunits in untreated normal cells were totally endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (endo H)-resistant, one-third were partially endo H-resistant, and one-third were totally endo H-sensitive. BFA decreased to zero the proportion of subunits which were totally endo H-resistant, while it increased the proportion which were partially endo H-resistant. Thus, BFA blocked processing of one oligosaccharide chain per subunit to endo H-resistance. Sucrose-gradient centrifugation studies showed that BFA increased the proportion of LPL subunits in normal cells which were present as active dimers. LPL activity in cld/cld adipocytes was 120 m-units/mg of DNA and that in normal adipocytes treated with CST was 430 m-units/mg of DNA. Most LPL subunits in such cells were totally endo H-sensitive and some were partially endo H-resistant, but none were totally endo H-resistant. Some of the subunits, in both cld/cld and CST-treated cells, were present as inactive LPL dimers. BFA increased LPL activity in cld/cld cells to 2100 m-units/mg of DNA and that in CST-treated cells to 2600 m-units/mg of DNA within 2 h. BFA increased in both groups the proportion of LPL subunits which were partially endo H-resistant. BFA also increased the proportion which were present as active dimers. Immunofluorescence studies in normal and cld/cld adipocytes showed that BFA caused retention of LPL in large tubular and spherical structures and in ER, but not in Golgi. When BFA was withdrawn and protein synthesis was blocked with cycloheximide, LPL in normal cells was transferred to Golgi within 30 min and disappeared within 60 min, whereas LPL in cld/cld cells was retained in large vesicles and ER. The findings indicate that BFA enabled synthesis of active LPL in cld/cld and CST-treated cells via translocation of Golgi components to ER. Also, cld/cld cells synthesized LPL which could be processed to active lipase and the enzymes needed for activation of the lipase were present in Golgi of such cells. Production of inactive LPL in cld/cld adipocytes probably results from their inability to transport LPL from ER to Golgi.