Intracellular origin of hormone-sensitive lipolysis in the rat

Regulation of myocardial triacylglycerol synthesis and metabolism

Studies showing a correlation of excess myocardial triacylglycerol stores with apoptosis, fibrosis, and contractile dysfunction indicate that dysregulation of triacylglycerol metabolism may contribute to cardiac disease. This review covers the regulation of heart triacylglycerol accumulation at the critical control points of fatty acid uptake, enzymes of triacylglycerol synthesis, lipolysis, and lipoprotein secretion. These pathways are discussed in the context of the central role myocardial triacylglycerol plays in cardiac energy metabolism and heart disease.

Properties of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase activities in the isolated rat heart. Effect of glucagon, ischaemia and diabetes

Myocardial triacylglycerol hydrolysis is subject to product inhibition. After hydrolysis of endogenous triacylglycerols, the main proportion of the liberated fatty acids is re-esterified to triacylglycerol, indicating the importance of fatty acid re-esterification in the regulation of myocardial triacylglycerol homoeostasis. Therefore, we characterized phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) activities, enzymes catalysing the final steps in the re-esterification of fatty acids to triacylglycerols in the isolated rat heart. The PAP activity was mainly recovered in the microsomal and soluble cell fractions, with an apparent Km of 0.14 mM for both the microsomal and the soluble enzyme. PAP was stimulated by Mg2+ and oleic acid. Oleic acid, like a high concentration of KCl, stimulated the translocation of PAP activity from the soluble to the particulate (microsomal) fraction. Myocardial DGAT had an apparent Km of 3.8 microM and was predominantly recovered in the particulate (microsomal) fraction. Both enzyme activities were significantly increased after acute streptozotocin-induced diabetes, PAP from 15.6 +/- 1.1 to 28.1 +/- 3.6 m-units/g wet wt. (P less than 0.01) and DGAT from 2.23 +/- 0.11 to 3.01 +/- 0.11 m-units/g wet wt. (P less than 0.01). In contrast with diabetes, low-flow ischaemia during 30 min did not affect PAP and DGAT activity in rat hearts. Perfusion with glucagon (0.1 microM) during 30 min did not affect total PAP activity, but changed the subcellular distribution. More PAP activity was recovered in the particulate fraction. DGAT activity was lowered by glucagon treatment from 0.37 +/- 0.03 to 0.23 +/- 0.02 m-unit/mg of microsomal protein (P less than 0.05). The role of PAP and DGAT activity and PAP distribution in the myocardial glucose/fatty acid cycle is discussed.

Involvement of lysosome-like particles in the metabolism of endogenous myocardial triglycerides during ischemia/reperfusion. Uptake and degradation of triglycerides by lysosomes isolated from rat heart

The hormonal regulation and enzymatic basis of endogenous lipolysis in heart are not yet completely elucidated. The lysosomal fraction from rat heart appeared to be markedly enriched in triglycerides and a significant reduction in triglycerides in this fraction was found after prolonged perfusion or stimulation of lipolysis with glucagon. The enhanced rate of lipolysis, measured as glycerol release from the isolated perfused rat heart, was abolished 10-15 min after continuous glucagon administration. Omission of glucagon for another 60 min restored the ability of glucagon to stimulate lipolysis, indicating the limited availability of endogenous triglycerides and the presence of a transfer-system for triglycerides from a non-metabolically active pool to a metabolically active pool. The enhanced lipolysis induced by low-flow ischemia was found to be inhibited by the lysosomotropic agent methylamine (5 mM). Methylamine-perfusion during low-flow ischemia was accompanied by an increased recovery of myocardial triglycerides in the lysosomal fraction. The possible role of lysosome-like particles in myocardial triglyceride homeostasis was further investigated by studying the kinetics of uptake and degradation of labeled triglycerides by membrane-particles recovered in the subcellular fraction enriched with lysosomal marker enzymes. It appeared that isolated lysosomal membranes take up added triglycerides at an average rate of 30 nmoles/min/g protein. The bulk of these triglycerides taken up is stored whereas 20% is degraded to diglycerides and free fatty acids. More than 90% of the free fatty acids formed were released from the lysosomes into the supernatant. The uptake and degradation of triglyceride-filled liposomes by isolated myocardial lysosomes was inhibited during incubation with methylamine (5 mM). On the other hand, a lowering of pH during in vitro incubation increased the rate of uptake and degradation of added triglycerides by isolated lysosomes. These results indicate that lysosomes or lysosome-like particles are involved in the enhanced lipolysis during myocardial ischemia.

Stimulation of myocardial neutral triglyceride lipase activity by adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate: involvement of glycogenolysis

Endogenous lipolysis can be influenced by various hormones. Hormonal stimulation of endogenous lipolysis in the Langendorff heart was diminished by inhibition of glycogenolysis. Therefore we studied the influence of glycogenolysis on the cAMP-dependent activation of the neutral triglyceride lipase activity using a 40,000 X g post mitochondrial supernatant fraction from rat heart homogenates. In the presence of cAMP and ATP neutral triglyceride lipase activity was stimulated by 40%. This stimulation could not be detected in supernatants from which glycogen was removed after incubation in the presence of amyloglucosidase. Addition of glycogen overcomes this loss of stimulation. The activation of neutral triglyceride lipase by cAMP and ATP was mimicked by glucose plus ATP as well as by glycerol-3-phosphate but not by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Moreover, the cAMP stimulation of neutral triglyceride lipase activity was suppressed by low amounts of palmitoyl-CoA indicating product inhibition of lipase activity. These results indicate that the level of intracellular precursors of fatty acid re-esterification, by determining the removal rate of product fatty acids, may be the major determinant of the stimulation of lipolysis by cAMP.

Lipoprotein lipases and stress hormones: studies with glucocorticoids and cholera toxin

The intravenous injection of cholera toxin in rats 17 h prior to experimentation results in increased levels of insulin and corticosterone in the blood. This is accompanied by a rise in lipoprotein lipase activity in muscle and a decrease in adipose tissue. Pre- and postheparin blood levels of the enzyme are increased, representing the higher overall muscle activity. Hepatic lipase is decreased by cholera toxin treatment. These enzyme changes are accompanied by increased levels of non-esterified fatty acids, ketone bodies and unesterified cholesterol in the blood, whereas triacylglycerol levels are lowered. The lipoprotein triacylglycerol secretion is not affected by cholera toxin, suggesting increased triacylglycerol removal from the blood. On the other hand the unesterified cholesterol removal may be decreased due to the decreased hepatic lipase activity. Administration of excess glucocorticoid 2 days prior to blood and tissue sampling also resulted in a rise in lipoprotein lipase, a decrease in hepatic lipase activity and an increase of non-esterified fatty acids. In contrast to the effect of cholera toxin, the triacylglycerol levels were increased. Adrenalectomy, whether by inhibition of 11-beta-steroid hydroxylase or by surgical intervention, did not abolish the choleratoxin effects. It is concluded that corticosterone increase is not essential to the cholera toxin effects. Corticosterone itself probably causes an increase of cyclic AMP and/or Ca2+ levels, as is discussed.

Studies on the involvement of lipolytic enzymes in endogenous lipolysis of the isolated rat heart

Rat hearts were depleted in vivo from both the heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase and heparin-resistant tissue neutral triacylglycerol lipase activity by treatment of the animals with cycloheximide (2 mg/kg body weight), intraperitoneally injected 2.5 and 5 h prior to perfusion. The tissue acid lipase, mono- and diacylglycerol lipase activities were not affected by cycloheximide-induced inhibition of protein synthesis. Myocardial basal and glucagon-stimulated lipolysis, determined by the rate of glycerol production and release from the isolated hearts, was not significantly different in control and cycloheximide-treated rats. Tissue triacylglycerols were recovered with the highest relative specific distribution in the lysosomal fraction isolated from heart homogenates. Upon prolongation of the perfusion-duration the relative specific distribution of triacylglycerols in the lysosomal fraction decreased. In addition, the specific lysosomal triacylglycerol content (micrograms/mg protein) dropped significantly, indicating an important role of lysosomes in myocardial triacylglycerol turnover. Our data strongly suggest that the heparin-resistant neutral triacylglycerol lipase activity may not be the only determinant of endogenous lipolysis in the isolated rat heart and indicate that lipolysis may additionally be mediated by the lysosomal, acid lipase in concert with the microsomal mono-and diacylglycerol lipase.

Characterization of mono-, di- and triacylglycerol lipase activities in the isolated rat heart

The lipolytic activities of heart tissue towards full and partial acylglycerols were characterized. Tissue lysosomal, acid lipase activity (pH 4.8) was inhibited by high salt, protamine sulfate, NaF, MgATP, Triton X-100, serum and the esterase-inhibitor diethylparanitrophenyl phosphate. The tissue neutral triacylglycerol lipase activity (pH 7.4) was recovered predominantly in the microsomal and soluble fractions and exhibited essentially identical properties towards activators (serum, apolipoprotein C-II) and reagents (NaCl, Triton X-100, NaF, MgATP and diethylparanitrophenyl phosphate) relative to vascular lipoprotein lipase, except for protamine sulfate which increased the serum-stimulated neutral triacylglycerol lipase activity. Triacylglycerol hydrolysis at acid pH was incomplete, whereas at neutral pH full hydrolysis occurred. Myocardial mono- and diacylglycerol lipase activities, with pH optima of 8.0 and 7.4, respectively, were recovered in the microsomal fraction. They differed immunologically from neutral lipase and lipoprotein lipase and did not bind to heparin-Sepharose 4B. They were kinetically different, partially inhibited by NaCl and differentially affected by protamine sulfate. NaF, Triton X-100 and diethylparanitrophenyl phosphate. Our data suggest that endogenous hydrolytic activity against full and partial acylglycerols is mediated by separate enzymes.

Localization and function of myocardial lipolysis

Mobilization of triacylglycerol stored in heart cells is accomplished by the combined action of lysosomal (acid) lipase and microsomal monoacylglycerol lipase or carboxylesterase. Non(heparin)-releasable neutral or alkaline lipase is similar to non(readily)-releasable lipoprotein lipase (LPL). The enzyme is mainly localized extracellularly. Non(readily)-releasable LPL probably represents LPL in caveola or vacuolae of vascular endothelium and/or LPL on myocardial interstitium. It contributes to the uptake of lipoprotein constituents in heart cells. Glycerol, an endproduct of lipolysis, is not a reliable marker for the net mobilization of lipid stored in heart cells. It is formed both intra- and extracellularly, and does not reflect the rate of oxidation of part of free fatty acids formed.

Inhibition by adenosine triphosphate of heart microsomal neutral lipase activity

Triacylglycerol lipolysis was inhibited by palmitate in the isolated perfused normal rat heart. Acetate or acetylcarnitine could reproduce the inhibitory effects of palmitate. Since heart neutral lipase plays an important role in the lipolysis of heart triacylglycerols, the effects of acetylcarnitine, acetyl CoA and related metabolites on the microsomal neutral lipase activity were studied. ATP inhibited the enzyme activity in a concentration-dependent manner without a lag phase. AMP and adenylyl imidodiphosphate, two compounds structurally related to ATP but whose phosphate groups cannot be transferred, did not inhibit the microsomal lipase activity. These results suggested that ATP inhibited the lipase activity through the transfer of its phosphate group. It is proposed that cellular ATP concentration is a determinant of tricylglycerol lipolysis in the heart.

The effect of excess (acyl) carnitine on lipid metabolism in rat heart

During Langendorff perfusion of rat hearts with Intralipid, the resulting fat accumulation in the hearts can be inhibited by the addition of 5 mM L-carnitine to the perfusion medium. The mechanism of this phenomenon is probably the inhibition of lipid accumulation in the heart by acylcarnitine rather than stimulation of fatty acid oxidation by excess carnitine addition. Palmitoylcarnitine was found to stimulate trioleoylglycerol hydrolysis at neutral pH in heart homogenates, when it was tested in the presence of relatively much protein. At higher palmitoylcarnitine: protein ratios, however, lipolysis was inhibited. Inhibition of lipolysis was also observed in lipid-enriched hearts during retrograde perfusion by the addition of 5 mM carnitine suggesting that also in intact heart long-chain acylcarnitine excess may inhibit lipolytic activity.

Intracellular origin and regulation of endogenous lipolysis in rat heart

The rate of glycerol release from isolated, perfused rat hearts was used as an index for endogenous lipolysis. Pharmacological and metabolic interventions were performed in order to obtain information about the intracellular site of action and regulation of tissue triglyceride (TG) hydrolysis in heart. It proved that endogenous lipolysis probably is of lysosomal origin. The activity of tissue lipolysis is dependent on the amount of stored TG and on the contractile status of the heart and is subject to feedback inhibition by production of fatty acids. Evidence is presented that Ca2+ plays an important role in the regulation and hormonal modification of lipolysis since all mechanisms inducing alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis influence myocardial lipolysis. Our experimental data and current knowledge are discussed in the light of a new hypothesis which relates intracellular Ca2+ and the rate of fatty acid utilization to the activity (activities) of tissue lipase(s). It is proposed that inhibition of endogenous lipolysis may be the main mechanism of action of antiarrhythmic agents (lidocaine, quinidine, phenothiazines).

Dual localization of lipoprotein lipase in rat heart. Its relationship to chylomicron degradation

Rat hearts were perfused retrogradely using a modified technique that allows the separate collection of coronary (Qrv) and interstitial (Qi) effluents. Evidence is presented that Qrv contains products from the coronary vasculature and that Qi contains products arising from cardiac myocytes. Heparin perfusion of rat hearts led to a release of lipolytic activity in Qrv and Qi which was characterized as lipoprotein lipase (LPL). The relative amounts of LPL released in Qrv and Qi were dependent on the feeding condition of the rat. A high LPL activity was recovered from Qrv of fasted rats, and Qi was high in LPL during feeding. On perfusion of hearts with [3H]cholesterol-labeled chylomicrons, the tissue uptake of cholesterol was highest in the fasted state, whereas release of radioactivity in Qi was predominant in the fed state. This radioactivity in Qi appeared to be associated with chylomicron degradation products (remnants and surface fragments). Our experiments indicate that cholesterol uptake during chylomicron breakdown is inhibited in the fed state, and the relationship between myocyte LPL activity and interstitial formation of chylomicron degradation products suggests a role for the myocyte LPL in lipoprotein metabolism.

Changes in fatty acyl chain composition of rat heart phospholipids induced by noradrenaline

The effect of noradrenaline on fatty acyl chain composition of the rat heart phospholipids was studied in vivo. The rats received increasing amounts of noradrenaline for 15 days. The noradrenaline stress caused significant alterations in the fatty acyl chain composition of the two major phospholipids in heart muscle, whereas the phospholipid content remained unchanged. In phosphatidylcholine, there was 50% diminution in linoleic acid and a decrease in oleic acid with a concomitant increase in stearic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids. In phosphatidylethanolamine, the docosahexaenoic acid increased by 25% accompanied by a decrease in oleic and arachidonic acids. The possible causes and consequences of these changes are discussed.

Comparative study of chylomicron and fatty acid utilization in small intestine and heart

Chylomicrons were isolated from the urine of rats after a surgical procedure in which the cysterna chyli was connected with the right ureter. The fatty acids of the chylomicrons served as a respiratory substrate for rat heart and not for rat small intestine during in vitro vascular perfusions. The reason for the absence of chylomicron utilization in small intestine was found to be the virtual absence of lipoprotein lipase from this organ. Both heart and small intestine oxidized oleate complexed to albumin. Increasing the molar ratio of fatty acid to albumin from 3 to 6 did not affect the rate of fatty acid oxidation in heart, but increased fatty acid oxidation in small intestine.

Hormone-sensitive lipase in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells and its activation by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase

Differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to adipocyte-like cells was accompanied by a 19-fold increase in neutral triglyceride lipase activity, a 12-fold increase in diglyceride lipase activity, a 10-fold increase in monoglyceride lipase activity, and a 280-fold increase in cholesterol esterase activity. In contrast, acid acylhydrolase activities did not increase during differentiation. The rate of glycerol release from unstimulated intact cells increased by more than 1 order of magnitude upon differentiation. Isoproterenol (1 microM) and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (0.1 mM) further stimulated this rate of glycerol release 3-fold. The neutral triglyceride lipase activity in cell-free preparations of differentiated cells was activated 105% by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Neutral cholesterol esterase, diglyceride lipase, and monoglyceride lipase were also activated (117%, 10%, and 37+, respectively) by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. In contrast, protein kinase had no effect on any of the four lysosomal acid acylhydrolase activities. Thus, hormone-sensitive lipase, the most characteristic and functionally important enzyme of adipose tissue, has been characterized in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. The 3T3-L1 cell should be a valuable model system in which to study regulation of hormone-sensitive lipase, particularly its long-term regulation.

The effect of feeding rats with partially hydrogenated marine oil or rapeseed oil on the chain shortening of erucic acid in perfused heart

1. The metabolism of [14(-14)C]erucic acid and [U-14C]palmitic acid was studied in perfused hearts from rats fed diets containing hydrogenated marine oil, rapeseed oil or peanut oil for three weeks. 2. [14C]Erucic acid was shortened to [14C]eicosenoic acid (20 : 1, n -- 9) and [14C]oleic acid (18 : 1, n -- 9) in perfused rat hearts from all diet groups. The rapeseed oil diet caused a three-fold increase and the marine oil diet a four-fold increase in the amount of chain-shortened products recovered in heart lipids at the end of perfusion, compared to peanut oil diet. 3. The content of C16:1, C18:1 and C20:1 fatty acids was increased in heart lipids of rats fed hydrogenated marine oil or rapseed oil diet, compared to peanut oil diet. 4. Feeding hydrogenated marine oil or rapeseed oil to the rats induced a 85% increase in catalase activity, a 20% increase in the activity of cytochrome oxidase and a 30--40% increase in the content of total CoA in the heart compared to rats fed peanut oil diet. 5. It is suggested that [14(-14)C]erucic acid is shortened by the beta-oxidation system of peroxisomes in the heart. The increased chain shortening in the hearts from animals fed rapeseed oil or partially hydrogenated marine oil for three weeks may be an important part of an adaptation process.

Alteration of the lipase activities of muscle, adipose tissue and liver by rapeseed oil feeding of rats

Feeding rapeseed oil, rich in erucic acid, for 4 days results in a significant increase of the lipoprotein lipase activities of heart and adipose tissue. The lipase activity of liver, which in earlier studies has been shown to be releasable by heparin perfusion, also increases by the dietary regimen. The increased lipoprotein lipase activity of heart may contribute to lipid accumulation in this organ. The higher intracellular lipid store probably results in higher (hormone-sensitive) tissue lipase activity. The increase of lipoprotein lipase of adipose tissue, however, is not accompanied by an increase of hormone-stimulated tissue lipase activity in fat cells. This activity may even become lower, and might contribute to the decrease of the lipid store in heart after an initial rapid phase of fat accumulation during erucic acid feeding.