Endogenous plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in fed and fasting rats may reflect the functional pool of endothelial lipoprotein lipase

Changes in lipoprotein lipase modulate tissue energy supply during stress

We studied the variations caused by stress in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, LPL-mRNA, and local blood flow in LPL-rich tissues in the rat. Stress was produced by body immobilization (Immo): the rat's limbs were taped to metal mounts, and its head was placed in a plastic tube. Chronic stress (2 h daily of Immo) decreased total LPL activity in mesenteric and epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) and was accompanied by a weight reduction of these tissues. In limb muscle, heart, and adrenals, total LPL activity and mRNA levels increased, and, in plasma, LPL activity and mass also increased. Acute stress (30-min Immo) caused a decrease in total LPL activity only in retroperitoneal WAT and an increase in preheparin plasma active LPL, but the overall weight of this tissue did not vary significantly. We propose an early release of the enzyme from this tissue into the bloodstream by some unknown extracellular pathways or other local mechanisms. These changes in this key energy-regulating enzyme are probably induced by catecholamines. They modify the flow of energy substrates between tissues, switching the WAT from importer to exporter of free fatty acids and favoring the uptake by muscle of circulating triacylglycerides for energy supply. Moreover, we found that acute stress almost doubled blood flow in all WAT studied, favoring the export of free fatty acids.

Isoproterenol increases active lipoprotein lipase in adipocyte medium and in rat plasma

White adipose tissue (WAT) lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity channels diet fat towards storage in adipocytes. Adrenaline (ADR) is accepted to reduce WAT or adipocyte LPL activity (LPLa), but available data are not clear-cut regarding long exposure to ADR in vitro or in vivo. We studied the effects of long exposures to ADR or beta-adrenergic agonist on LPL: in isolated rat adipocytes (3 h) and in rats (>1 day). Isoproterenol (ISO) (1 microM) did not alter LPLmRNA nor LPLa in adipocytes, but increased LPLa in medium more than twofold (3.58 +/- 0.35 vs. 1.32 +/- 0.35 mU/10(6) adipocytes, P < 0.001). Effect was time (not present at 1 h, clear at 2 h) and concentration dependent (high sensitivity from 10 to 100 nM, max at 1 microM). Adenylate cyclase activator or cyclic AMP (cAMP) analogue produced a similar increase. Thus in adipocytes ISO produced an increase in LPLa release and/or a decrease in extracellular LPLa degradation. ADR or ISO treated rats had a two to fourfold decrease in WAT LPLa vs. unchanged LPLmRNA. This decrease was 10-fold in WAT heparin-releasable LPLa (5.7 +/- 0.6 vs. 57.3 +/- 10.2 mU/g, P < 0.001), which represents peri/extracellular LPLa. Plasma LPLa was increased 11-fold by ADR (3.30 +/- 0.58 vs. 0.32 +/- 0.08 mU/ml, P < 0.001) whereas only threefold by ISO (P > 0.01). We suggest that in vivo ADR increased release of active LPL to plasma from endothelial cells of LPL-rich tissue(s)-WAT was probably one of these tissues releasing LPL since it lost 90% of its peri/extracellular LPLa-and/or decreased degradation of plasma active LPL. Since liver LPLa was not increased, plasma active LPL might be kept away from hepatic degradation by binding to stabilising entities in plasma (fatty acids (FA), lipoproteins or soluble heparan sulphates (HS)). In conclusion, we believe this is the first report stating that: (a) ISO increases LPLa in isolated adipocyte medium, and (b) ADR administration to rats decreases WAT extracellular active LPL and increases preheparin plasma active LPL.

Food deprivation increases post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity in humans

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of fasting on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in human post-heparin plasma, representing the functional pool of LPL.

DESIGN

Fourteen healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. The subjects were fasted for 30 h. Activities of LPL and hepatic lipase (HL), and LPL mass, were measured in pre- and post-heparin plasma in the fed and in the fasted states, respectively. For comparison, LPL and HL activities were measured in pre- and post-heparin plasma from fed and 24-h-fasted guinea pigs.

RESULTS

Fasting caused a significant drop in the levels of serum insulin, triglycerides and glucose in the human subjects. Post-heparin LPL activity increased from 79 +/- 6.4 mU mL-1 in the fed state to 112 +/- 10 mU mL-1 in the fasted state (P < 0.01), while LPL mass was 361 +/- 29 in the fed state and 383 +/- 28 in the fasted state, respectively (P = 0.6). In contrast, fasting of guinea pigs caused an 80% drop in post-heparin LPL activity. The effect of fasting on human and guinea pig post-heparin HL activity were moderate and statistically not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In animal models such as rats and guinea pigs, post-heparin LPL activity decreases on fasting, presumably due to down-regulation of adipose tissue LPL. In humans, fasting caused increased post-heparin LPL activity.

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.

Pancreatic bile salt-dependent lipase activity in serum of normolipidemic patients

Bile salt-dependent lipase (BSDL, E.C. 3.1.1.-) is a digestive enzyme secreted by the pancreatic acinar cell. Once in the duodenum, the enzyme, upon activation by primary bile salts, hydrolyzes dietary lipid esters such as cholesteryl esters and lipid-soluble vitamin esters. This enzyme is partially transferred from the duodenum or pancreas to the circulation where it has been postulated to exert a systemic action on atheroma-generating oxidized-low density lipoprotein (LDL). In the present study, sera from 40 healthy normolipidemic volunteers were used to investigate the possible linkage between circulating BSDL, lipids, and lipoproteins. We showed, firstly, that pancreatic-like BSDL activity can be detected in these serums. Secondly, BSDL activity increased significantly with the level of LDL-cholesterol and was also positively linked to the serum concentration of Apo B100 and Apo A-I. Thirdly, we also established that BSDL was associated with LDL, in part by a specific interaction with Apo B100, while no interaction was found with Apo A-I. No linkage with other recorded parameters (triglycerides, phospholipids, and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol) was detected. Because an increase in LDL-cholesterol represents an important risk factor for atheroma, the concomitant increase in BSDL, which can metabolize atherogenic LDL, suggests for the first time that this circulating enzyme may exert a positive effect against atherosclerosis.

Hepatic regeneration induces changes in lipoprotein lipase activity in several tissues and its re-expression in the liver

We examined the expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene and LPL activity following a two-thirds hepatectomy and during liver regeneration. In most of the tissues studied, LPL activity increased a few hours after partial hepatectomy, but soon returned to normal levels. The greatest increase was found in the adrenal glands, plasma and liver. This increase in LPL activity in the liver could be partially due to an increase in the influx of the enzyme from extrahepatic tissues. There is, however, also a re-expression of LPL mRNA in the liver after partial hepatectomy (during the first hours). It is well known that LPL is expressed in the liver of neonatal animals, but progressively decreases during post-natal development, to reach adult levels around the time of weaning. Our results show by the first time that the remaining liver re-expresses LPL gene during the regeneration process and that the hepatocytes de-differentiate and acquire some of the neonatal characteristics. The increase in LPL mRNA will contribute to the rise in LPL activity after hepatectomy. This presence of LPL could enable the liver to take up fatty acids from the circulating triacylglycerols, which are needed as energetic and plastic substrates during the process of hepatic regeneration.

Alterations in lipolytic activity at hepatic subcellular sites of fed and fasted rats

This study investigates the relationship between the nutritional state of rats and lipid metabolism in distinct hepatic intracellular sites. Hepatic uptake of both protein and triacylglycerol (TG) moieties of injected very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is increased in fasted rats compared with fed controls. The VLDL-TG hydrolysis rate is increased in the plasma of fasted rats. This is shown by a higher ratio of labeled free fatty acid (FFA) to TG (FFA/TG). In both fed and fasted rats, a much greater increase of the labeled FFA/TG ratio in endosomes, compared with that in plasma, shows that further TG hydrolysis occurs in prelysosomal compartments. However, in fasted rats, this increase (18-fold) is much less than that in fed rats (69-fold). This observation is supported by the finding of significantly lower TG-lipase activity at pH 5, 7, and 8.6 in the endosomes of fasted rats. In contrast, during fasting, TG-lipase activity in whole liver homogenate and in isolated lysosomes is increased at pH 5. These observations suggest that after feeding there is a shift in intracellular lipolytic activity from lysosomes to prelysosomal organelles.

Expression of lipoprotein lipase mRNA in rat heart is localized mainly to mesenchymal cells as studied by in situ hybridization

The expression of lipoprotein lipase mRNA (LPL mRNA) was studied in rat hearts by use of a sulfur-35-labeled antisense mRNA probe. Rats were studied under three conditions: fed, fasted, and injected with cholera toxin (an irreversible agonist of adenylate cyclase) and then fasted. The highest LPL activity was found in the hearts of cholera toxin-injected, fasted rats. After injection of cholera toxin, LPL mRNA levels were 3.5-fold higher than those from fed rats. Using in situ hybridization, we studied the site of expression of LPL mRNA under the same three experimental conditions. In sections of hearts from cholera toxin-injected, fasted rats, concentrations of autoradiographic grains, representing the site of LPL mRNA, were seen over interstitial elements, which comprise capillary and perivascular cells. A more diffuse and sparse reaction was seen over cardiac myocytes and was not always distinguishable from background. A similar but much less definitive localization was seen in sections of hearts from fasted rats. The present results indicate that in the rat heart, the main site of LPL synthesis and processing, especially after stimulation with an irreversible agonist of adenylate cyclase, is localized to interstitial elements rather than to adult cardiac myocytes.

Recombinant human interleukin-1 suppresses lipoprotein lipase activity, but not expression of lipoprotein lipase mRNA in mesenchymal rat heart cell cultures

The effect of human recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1) on the regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was studied in rat heart mesenchymal cell cultures. A time-dependent reduction in enzyme activity occurred with a 30% fall after 1 h. The suppression of enzyme activity was accompanied by a commensurate reduction in enzyme mass. The reduction in LPL activity was most prominent in the heparin releasable pool; IL-1 treatment resulted in a 7.2-8.3-fold decrease in the functional compartment and a 2.5-2.8-fold decrease in residual cellular activity. The effect of IL-1 could be prevented by the addition of the IL-1 inhibitor. However, in contradistinction to the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), there was no change in LPL mRNA in cultures treated with IL-1. The present results show that the regulation of LPL in mesenchymal heart cell cultures by IL-1 occurs posttranscriptionally, as has been shown in 3T3 cells. The more pronounced effect on LPL activity in the functional pool suggests that IL-1 treatment might have influenced also the processing and/or transport of the enzyme to the cell surface.

Interaction of lipoprotein lipase with subendothelial extracellular matrix

We have analyzed the binding of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to the subendothelial extracellular matrix produced by cultured endothelial cells. Binding was linear up to a concentration of 0.5 microgram/ml (10 nM) enzyme used in this study, and equilibrium was achieved after 2 h of incubation with bovine 125I-LPL at 4 degrees C. Heparin and heparan sulfate effectively inhibited the binding of LPL to extracellular-matrix-coated plates; chondroitin sulfate had no effect, while high concentrations of dermatan sulfate or keratan sulfate inhibited binding of LPL to extracellular matrix by only 40%. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) did not affect LPL binding, while antithrombin-III (AT-III) caused up to a 50% inhibition of enzyme binding to extracellular matrix. alpha-Thrombin. 5.10(-6) M, and its esterolytically inactive derivative, DIP-alpha-thrombin, effectively inhibited binding of LPL to extracellular-matrix-coated plates. alpha-Thrombin was also able to release the extracellular-matrix-bound LPL in an active form. Extracellular-matrix-bound LPL detached into medium containing triolein emulsion and/or serum, and was catalytically active after being released. Extracellular-matrix-bound LPL lost 30% of its activity following incubation at 37 degrees C for 4 h. in contrast to soluble LPL which lost 75% of its activity. It is plausible to conclude from these data that in vivo the subendothelial basement membrane, similarly to extracellular matrix, sequesters and stabilizers LPL secreted into the subendothelial space by non-endothelial cells, and thus may play an important role in determining the route of LPL from its site of synthesis to its site of action.

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C releases lipoprotein lipase from the heparin releasable pool in rat heart cell cultures

The effect of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) on the release of lipoprotein lipase was studied in F1 heart cell cultures. Exposure of the cultures for 10 min to PI-PLC resulted in a 2-fold increase in the release of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) into the culture medium. PI-PLC released LPL from the heparin-releasable pool and PI-PLC was not effective in cultures pretreated with heparin. Insulin had no influence on the release of LPL from the heart cell cultures, even though it enhanced the uptake of 2-deoxy[3H]glucose by these cells. In cultures labeled with 35S, treatment with PI-PLC resulted in an increase in the release of 35S-labeled proteoglycan. PI-PLC was also effective in enhancing the release of bovine LPL exogenously bound to cultured aortic smooth muscle cells. The findings that PI-PLC was not effective after heparin, that it did release exogenously added LPL to cell cultures and that it released 35S-labeled proteoglycan, were interpreted to indicate that PI-PLC apparently acts on the release of LPL in an indirect manner, releasing heparan sulphate to which LPL is bound. As there is a previously described correlation between circulating LPL and the heparin-releasable LPL, we hypothesize that the activity of PI-PLC in the endothelial cell membrane or plasma phosphatidyl-specific phospholipase D regulates the plasma LPL levels.

Impaired triacylglycerol catabolism in hypertriglyceridemia of the diabetic, cholesterol-fed rabbit: a possible mechanism for protection from atherosclerosis

The etiology of the hypertriglyceridemia in alloxan-diabetic rabbits was studied by two independent methods. Production and removal rates of VLDL triacylglycerol were measured in diabetic rabbits by injection of [3H]palmitate-labelled VLDL. Similarly, triacylglycerol total removal rates were determined in non-diabetic rabbits which were infused with Intralipid to mimic the plasma triacylglycerol concentrations of diabetic rabbits. Compared to nondiabetic rabbits, triacylglycerol removal rats were decreased in diabetic rabbits, particularly at higher levels of plasma triacylglycerol. During cholesterol and triacylglycerol supplementation of the diet, post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity of diabetic rabbits with severe hypertriglyceridemia averaged 36% of that of nondiabetics, suggesting an impaired triacylglycerol removal capacity. Furthermore, plasma triacylglycerol was inversely related to post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity among diabetic rabbits. VLDL triacylglycerol production increased with increasing plasma triacylglycerol concentration among diabetic cholesterol-fed rabbits with moderately severe hypertriglyceridemia, but reached an apparent plateau among rabbits with plasma triacylglycerol concentrations from approx. 2000-9000 mg/dl. Thus, severe hypertriglyceridemia in this model of insulin deficiency can be attributed only partially to VLDL hypersecretion, whereas a removal defect, resulting in saturation of the triacylglycerol removal mechanism, appears to be largely responsible. The impaired removal of plasma triacylglycerol is also related to the presence of cholesterol predominantly in lipoproteins of increased size. The data support the hypothesis that protection against atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed diabetic rabbits results from exclusion of very large cholesterol-containing lipoproteins from the arterial wall.

Lipoprotein lipase. A multifunctional enzyme relevant to common metabolic diseases

Lipoprotein lipase is an important regulator of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. It also contributes to the lipid and energy metabolism of different tissues in varying ways. Although the synthesis, manner of secretion, and mechanism of endothelial binding of lipoprotein lipase appear similar in all tissues, the factors that control gene expression and posttranslational events related to processing vary from tissue to tissue. The actual molecular events that determine this tissue specificity are not yet understood. In the future, however, it may be possible to stimulate or inhibit the activity of lipoprotein lipase in specific tissues and to alter metabolic processes so as to improve the quality and length of life in patients with metabolic diseases such as hypertriglyceridemia, HDL2 deficiency, and obesity.

Regulation of lipoprotein lipase activity in the sand rat: effect of nutritional state and cAMP modulation

The sand rat (Psammomys obesus) is a desert rodent in which obesity and diabetes mellitus appeared only subsequent to feeding laboratory animal chow. To study the role of lipoprotein lipase in the development and maintenance of obesity in the sand rat, enzyme activity in various organs and in plasma of sand rats or albino rats was determined following a 20-hour fast, or 16 hours after injection of cholera toxin. Despite comparable change in body weight, an altered pattern of enzyme distribution and regulation was observed in the sand rat. Neither fasting nor cholera toxin had an effect on heart and daiphragm muscle lipoprotein lipase activity of the sand rat, but caused a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in the treated albino rats. By using an isolated perfused heart system, we were able to measure enzyme activity present in the heparin-releasable fraction that represents the functional pool of the enzyme. In both species, the heparin-releasable fraction of the heart increased twofold following fasting, though initial values were lower in sand rat. In both species, fasting and cholera toxin administration resulted in an increase in plasma and liver lipoprotein lipase activity. Adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity of sand rat, unlike the albino rats, was similar in the various fat regions and was not lowered by food deprivation or cholera toxin administration. After both treatments, sand rat plasma insulin levels exceeded fivefold those of albino rats. Adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity of fed and fasted normal and diabetic sand rats correlated negatively with plasma insulin and glucose levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fate of lipoprotein lipase taken up by the rat liver. Evidence for a conformational change with loss of catalytic activity

When isolated rat livers were perfused with medium containing lipoprotein lipase, 40-60% was taken up during a single passage. This value was similar for lipoprotein lipase derived from culture medium of rat preadipocytes, and for lipoprotein lipase purified from bovine milk. It was also, similar, irrespective of the lipoprotein lipase concentration, at least up to 1 microgram/ml. Immediately following its uptake by the liver, a large fraction of the lipoprotein lipase could be released by heparin, but the magnitude of this fraction decreased with time. The enzyme lost its catalytic activity rather rapidly, but its degradation to acid-soluble products, or to larger fragments, was much slower. On heparin-agarose chromatography, the enzyme taken up by the liver eluted at a lower salt concentration than the original lipoprotein lipase preparation. This change in affinity for heparin suggests that the originally dimeric lipoprotein lipase had dissociated into monomers, in analogy to the findings in model experiments. It is suggested that the initial uptake of lipoprotein lipase occurs by binding to a polyanion at the liver cell surface. This is followed by endocytosis and dissociation of the enzyme from its heparan sulfate-like binding site. Acidification of the endosome may cause a conformational change in the lipase molecule with dissociation to inactive monomers, preceding ultimate proteolytic degradation.

Metabolic fate of rat heart endothelial lipoprotein lipase

When isolated rat hearts were perfused with medium containing 125I-labeled bovine lipoprotein lipase (LPL), they bound both lipase activity and radioactivity. More than 80% of the bound lipase could be rapidly released by heparin. Low concentrations of bovine LPL displaced 50-60% of the endogeneous, endothelial-bound LPL. Higher concentrations caused additional binding. Both binding and exchange were rapid processes. The hearts continuously released endogenous LPL into the medium. An antiserum that inhibited bovine but not rat LPL was used to differentiate endogeneous and exogeneous LPL activity. When the pool of endothelial LPL was labeled with bovine 125I-labeled LPL and then chased with unlabeled bovine LPL, approximately 50% of the labeled lipase was rapidly displaced. During chase perfusion with medium only, catalytically active bovine LPL appeared in the perfusate. The rate of release was similar to that observed for endogeneous LPL activity and amounted to 10-13% of the heparin-releasable fraction in the first 5 min of perfusion. There was little or no degradation of bovine 125I-labeled LPL to fragments or acid-soluble products. These results indicate that endothelial LPL is accessible for exchange with exogeneous LPL and that detachment rather than degradation may be the pathway for catabolism of endothelial LPL.

Lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, and carnitine in premature infants

Twenty six preterm infants were studied at the age of 2, 7, and 26 days. The activities of lipoprotein and hepatic lipase in plasma taken 15 minutes after a heparin bolus of 100 IU/kg had been given and the concentrations of carnitine in serum and urine were measured. The mean gestational age was 31 weeks (range 26-35 weeks) and birth weight 1580 g (range 840-2280 g). Thirteen infants weighed under 1500 g at birth (very low birth weight), 20 were of appropriate weight for gestational age and six were small for gestational age. Lipoprotein lipase activity was higher in the preterm infants of appropriate weight than in the infants of very low birth weight and those who were small for gestational age. At the age of 2 or 7 days the activity of lipoprotein lipase in the preterm infants (mean (SEM) 46.2 (4.3) mumol free fatty acid/ml/hour) was, however, higher than in term infants and adults. Multivariate regression analyses showed that weight and relative birth weight together explained 58% of the variance of lipoprotein lipase activity but only 3% of the variance of hepatic lipase activity. Serum carnitine concentration was lower in the preterm infants than in term infants. Urinary excretion of carnitine increased progressively with age but was independent of serum concentration and carnitine intake. Urinary excretion of total carnitine was significantly greater in the infants who were small for gestational age (mean (SEM) 754 (203) nmol/mg of creatinine, n = 6) than in the infants of appropriate weight (161 (22.0) nmol/mg of creatinine, n = 12) but acyl/free carnitine ratio was smaller in the infants who were small for gestational age than in infants of appropriate weight (0.56 v 5.5). The results indicate that the slow elimination of fat from the circulation in preterm infants less mature than 32 weeks of gestation can hardly be explained by low lipoprotein lipase activity.