Effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline on clearance of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins from plasma: studies with chylomicron-like lipid emulsions in rats

Interactions between hepatic iron and lipid metabolism with possible relevance to steatohepatitis

The liver is an important site for iron and lipid metabolism and the main site for the interactions between these two metabolic pathways. Although conflicting results have been obtained, most studies support the hypothesis that iron plays a role in hepatic lipogenesis. Iron is an integral part of some enzymes and transporters involved in lipid metabolism and, as such, may exert a direct effect on hepatic lipid load, intrahepatic metabolic pathways and hepatic lipid secretion. On the other hand, iron in its ferrous form may indirectly affect lipid metabolism through its ability to induce oxidative stress and inflammation, a hypothesis which is currently the focus of much research in the field of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH). The present review will first discuss how iron might directly interact with the metabolism of hepatic lipids and then consider a new perspective on the way in which iron may have a role in the two hit hypothesis for the progression of NAFLD via ferroportin and the iron regulatory molecule hepcidin. The review concludes that iron has important interactions with lipid metabolism in the liver that can impact on the development of NAFLD/NASH. More defined studies are required to improve our understanding of these effects.

New insights into how the intestine can regulate lipid homeostasis and impact vascular disease: frontiers for new pharmaceutical therapies to lower cardiovascular disease risk

In recent years, evidence has emerged that the intestine is a significant regulator of systemic cholesterol homeostasis and can contribute to raised plasma cholesterol concentration. In this review we provide a context for the role the intestine may have in cardiovascular disease during conditions of chronic disease (insulin resistance, obesity). In particular, we highlight the physiological role of the intestine in lipid absorption, identify novel elements in enterocyte molecular biology, review the concept that chylomicrons and their remnants contribute to atherogenesis during chronic disease, and address new principles of chylomicron overproduction during conditions of insulin resistance including the associated hormonal control of the intestine during these conditions. Finally, we raise the issue of a growing need for novel lipid-lowering pharmaceutical therapies that target intestinal lipid metabolism.

Serum lipid physiology and the influence of glaucoma medications

Understanding the effect of serum lipid levels on risk factors for coronary heart disease and how they are influenced by medical therapy may lead to overall better care of the glaucoma patient. Elevated low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels are major risk factors for heart disease. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is protective for heart disease. beta-adrenergic blockers, a class of medicines used to treat glaucoma, may influence serum lipid levels. Oral nonselective beta-adrenergic blockers reduce HDL cholesterol by 19% and increase triglycerides by 20-40%. Furthermore, topical nonselective beta-adrenergic blockers also decrease serum HDL and worsen the total cholesterol/HDL ratio. However, beta-blockers with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity appear to be lipid neutral. At present, there is no clear clinical evidence to indicate that changes in serum lipids with use of topical beta-adrenergic blockers significantly affect the clinical course of the patient. Little information is available for other classes of medicines used topically to treat glaucoma. However, oral preparations of prostaglandins, alpha-adrenergic agonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers do not adversely affect serum lipid levels. Further study is required on newer glaucoma preparations to determine their specific actions on lipid levels. Additionally, further work is required to understand the significance of not only the adverse effect of beta-adrenergic blockers on lipid levels, but their overall effect on long-term cardiac morbidity and mortality.

Acute effects of adrenaline on hepatic lipase secretion by rat hepatocytes

Catecholamines are responsible for the daily changes in hepatic lipase (HL) expression associated with feeding and fasting. We have studied the mechanism by which adrenaline decreases HL secretion in suspensions of freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Adrenaline acutely inhibited HL activity through activation of the alpha1-adrenergic pathway. The cells had significantly less HL activity in the presence of adrenaline versus cycloheximide, where protein de novo synthesis is completely blocked. The specific enzyme activity of secreted HL was not affected. Intracellular HL activity was decreased by adrenaline treatment. Pulse-labeling with [35S]methionine showed that de novo synthesis of the 53-kd endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (Endo H)-sensitive HL protein was unaffected by adrenaline. During subsequent chase of the control cells, the 53-kd form was converted to a 58-kd Endo H-resistant HL protein, which was rapidly secreted into the medium. In the presence of adrenaline, formation of the 58-kd protein was markedly reduced, whereas the 53-kd protein disappeared at a rate similar to the rate in controls. This suggests that part of the HL protein was degraded. In contrast to adrenaline, inhibition of HL secretion by colchicine was accompanied by an intracellular accumulation of HL activity and of the 58-kd protein. We conclude that adrenaline inhibits HL secretion posttranslationally by retarding the maturation of the 53-kd HL precursor to an active 58-kd protein, possibly by stimulating degradation of newly synthesized HL protein.

Vasoactive mediators affect the clearance of lipids from emulsion models of plasma lipoproteins in rats

We wished to establish whether the haemodynamic changes accompanying alterations in blood pressure exert a direct effect on clearance of chylomicron-like emulsions. N-Nitro-L-arginine (NOLA) and endothelin-1 were used to increase the blood pressure of normotensive rats, sodium nitroprusside (NP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were used to decrease the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The lipid emulsions contained radiolabeled triolein (TO) and cholesteryl oleate (CO) to trace plasma clearances. NP and CGRP enhanced TO clearance in the SHR but slowed the rate of CO clearance. NOLA in normotensive rats clearly slowed the rate of TO removal and also retarded CO clearance, whereas with endothelin-1 TO clearance remained unaffected and CO removal was markedly slowed. The effects on TO clearance are consistent with changes in arteriolar resistance regulating access of emulsion particles to lipoprotein lipase on the endothelial cells of capillaries in muscle and adipose tissue. The changes in CO removal rate are more difficult to interpret because factors determining hepatic blood flow are complex. The results suggest that haemodynamic changes potentially affect circulation times of various lipoprotein species in the plasma, with probable consequences in relation to atherogenesis.

Effects of adrenoreceptor antagonists and agonists on clearance of emulsion models of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins from plasma in rats

1. We previously found that adrenaline and noradrenaline exert essentially opposite effects on clearance from plasma of chylomicron-like emulsions injected intravenously in rats, suggesting mechanisms that may be implicated in the atherogenic effects of chronic stress and hypertension and conversely in the protective effect of regular exercise. 2. The mechanisms underlying the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline have now been investigated. Chronic adrenergic blockade with either the alpha 1-receptor antagonist doxazosin or the beta-receptor antagonist propranolol slowed the clearance of labelled emulsion lipids from plasma of normal Wistar rats. The results with doxazosin were unexpected in view of its capacity to decrease plasma triglycerides in patients. 3. In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) the clearance of triolein (TO) was very slow compared with normal Wistar rats. Emulsion TO clearance provides a measure of lipolysis by lipoprotein lipase, and a defect in clearance indicates either defective enzyme action or poor perfusion of capillary beds rich in enzyme. Defective enzyme activity in SHR was excluded, suggesting redistribution of blood flow away from skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. In SHR the TO clearance from injected chylomicron-like emulsions was improved by blockade with doxazosin compared with control untreated SHR. 4. The beta 2-adrenoreceptor agonist Fenoterol was infused intravenously during clearance of an injected lipid emulsion. Clearance of radiolabelled cholesteryl oleate (CO) was clearly slowed while there was a lesser reduction of TO clearance rate. Emulsion CO clearance provides a measure of the uptake of lipoprotein remnants by the liver, and a defect in clearance of CO indicates either defective ligand (apolipoprotein E)-receptor interaction or decreased perfusion of the splanchnic bed. Isoprenaline, a non-selective beta-adrenergic agonist, gave similar results. Both compounds reduced mean arterial pressure by about 20-40 mm Hg at the doses employed, indicating that the beta 1 (cardiac) effect of the isoprenaline was insufficient to offset its vasodilatatory effect on skeletal muscle arterioles (beta 2). 5. The alpha-agonist phenylephrine, at a dose which moderately raised mean arterial pressure, slowed clearance of both TO and CO for the first 12 min after injection of emulsion but at later time points clearances caught up with the controls. 6. Administration of a mixture of isoprenaline and phenylephrine produced definite enhancement of both TO clearance and CO clearance. The effect of the mixture was opposite to the effects of of either agonist alone, demonstrating clearly that direct effects on lipoprotein lipase activity or receptor mediated processes were not involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)