Lipidomic analysis of the liver identifies changes of major and minor lipid species in adiponectin deficient mice

Adiponectin protects from hepatic fat storage but adiponectin deficient mice (APN−/−) fed a standard chow do not develop liver steatosis. This indicates that other pathways might be activated to compensate for adiponectin deficiency. An unbiased and comprehensive screen was performed to identify hepatic alterations of lipid classes in these mice. APN−/− mice had decreased hepatic cholesteryl esters while active SREBP2 and systemic total cholesterol were not altered. Upregulation of cytochromes for bile acid synthesis suggests enhanced biliary cholesterol excretion. Analysis of 37 individual fatty acid species showed reduced stearate whereas total fatty acids were not altered. Total amount of triglycerides and phospholipids were equally abundant. A selective increase of monounsaturated phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine which positively correlate with hepatic and systemic triglycerides with the latter being elevated in APN−/− mice, was identified. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is involved in the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids and despite higher mRNA expression enzyme activity was not enhanced. Glucosylceramide postulated to contribute to liver damage was decreased.     

中链甘油三酯对小鼠胆固醇代谢和胆固醇7α-羟化酶表达的影响

目的：研究中链甘油三酯对小鼠胆固醇代谢的影响及可能的机制。 方法： 分别用AIN-93G配方饲料（BC），含1％胆固醇的AIN-93G配方饲料（Chol），含1％胆固醇和14%富含豆蔻酸的长链甘油三酯（LCT）的AIN-93G配方饲料（Chol＋LCT），含1％胆固醇和14％的中链甘油三酯（MCT）的AIN-93G配方饲料(Chol+MCT)喂养C57小鼠6周，每组15只。观察血清总胆固醇（TC）、肝脏胆固醇含量、机体总胆汁酸含量以及肝脏胆固醇7α-羟化酶（CYP7A1）的表达。 结果： Chol＋MCT组小鼠血清TC低于（P＜0.01）、肝脏胆固醇高于（P＜0.01）、机体总胆汁酸含量低于（P＜0.01）、CYP7A1表达低于（P＜0.01）Chol组小鼠；Chol＋MCT组小鼠血清TC低于（P＜0.01）、机体总胆汁酸含量以及CYP7A1 表达高于（P＜0.01）Chol+LCT组小鼠、肝脏胆固醇含量不变。 结论： MCT对机体胆固醇水平的影响与CYP7A1表达有关。     

The effects of diets enriched in beta-glucans on blood lipoprotein concentrations

Dietary beta-glucans lower the blood concentrations of cholesterol in animals and humans. Recent studies have uncovered mechanisms by which dietary beta-glucans may regulate cholesterol homeostasis. There is evidence that beta-glucans sequester bile acids in the intestine, reducing their reabsorption and return to the liver. Reducing hepatic bile acid concentrations activates the enzyme CYP7A1, which converts cholesterol into bile acids. This action leads to a reduction of hepatic cell cholesterol content, which up-regulates low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor synthesis and thereby accelerates the transportation of LDL-cholesterol from the blood into hepatocytes. Reduced intracellular cholesterol also up-regulates the hepatic synthesis of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Statins inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and could therefore provide an additive effect in suppressing hepatocyte cholesterol to that produced by enhancing its depletion with beta-glucans. Through this combination of agents, one would expect a greater clearance of LDL from the plasma with lower steady state levels of LDL-cholesterol.     

Definition of a novel growth factor-dependent signal cascade for the suppression of bile acid biosynthesis

The nuclear bile acid receptor FXR has been proposed to play a central role in the feedback repression of the gene encoding cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), the first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of bile acids. We demonstrate that FXR directly regulates expression of fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19), a secreted growth factor that signals through the FGFR4 cell-surface receptor tyrosine kinase. In turn, FGF-19 strongly suppresses expression of CYP7A1 in primary cultures of human hepatocytes and mouse liver through a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent pathway. This signaling cascade defines a novel mechanism for feedback repression of bile acid biosynthesis and underscores the vital role of FXR in the regulation of multiple pathways of cholesterol catabolism in the liver.     

Increased carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury and fibrosis in FGFR4-deficient mice

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) intoxification in rodents is a commonly used model of both acute and chronic liver injury. Recently, we showed that mice in which FGFR4 was ablated from the germline exhibited elevated cholesterol metabolism and bile acid synthesis coincident with unrepressed levels of cytochrome P450 7A (CYP7A), the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol disposal. Of the four fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor genes expressed in adult liver, FGFR4 is expressed specifically in mature hepatocytes. To determine whether FGFR4 plays a broader role in liver-specific metabolic functions, we examined the impact of both acute and chronic exposure to CCl(4) in FGFR4-deficient mice. Following acute CCl(4) exposure, the FGFR4-deficient mice exhibited accelerated liver injury, a significant increase in liver mass and delayed hepatolobular repair. Chronic CCl(4) exposure resulted in severe fibrosis in livers of FGFR4-deficient mice compared to normal mice. Analysis at both mRNA and protein levels indicated an 8-hour delay in FGFR4-deficient mice in the down-regulation of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) protein, the major enzyme whose products underlie CCl(4)-induced injury. These results show that hepatocyte FGFR4 protects against acute and chronic insult to the liver and prevents accompanying fibrosis. The results show that FGFR4 acts by promotion of processes that restore hepatolobular architecture rather than cellularity while limiting damage due to prolonged CYP2E1 activity.     

Gestational, pathologic and biochemical differences between very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in the mouse

Although many patients have been found to have very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency, none have been documented with long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) deficiency. In order to understand the metabolic pathogenesis of long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders, we generated mice with VLCAD deficiency (VLCAD(-/-)) and compared their pathologic and biochemical phenotypes of mice with LCAD deficiency (LCAD(-/-)) and wild-type mice. VLCAD(-/-) mice had milder fatty change in liver and heart. Dehydrogenation of various acyl-CoA substrates by liver, heart and skeletal muscle mitochondria differed among the three genotypes. The results for liver were most informative as VLCAD(-/-) mice had a reduction in activity toward palmitoyl-CoA and oleoyl-CoA (58 and 64% of wild-type, respectively), whereas LCAD(-/-) mice showed a more profoundly reduced activity toward these substrates (35 and 32% of wild-type, respectively), with a significant reduction of activity toward the branched chain substrate 2,6-dimethylheptanoyl-CoA. C(16) and C(18) acylcarnitines were elevated in bile, blood and serum of fasted VLCAD(-/-) mice, whereas abnormally elevated C(12) and C(14) acylcarnitines were prominent in LCAD(-/-) mice. Progeny with the combined LCAD(+/+)//VLCAD(+/-) genotype were over-represented in offspring from sires and dams heterozygous for both LCAD and VLCAD mutations. In contrast, no live mice with a compound LCAD(-/-)//VLCAD(-/-) genotype were detected.     

附子多糖预防高胆固醇血症的作用及其对肝脏CYP7α-1表达的影响

目的: 探讨附子多糖(FPS)预防高胆固醇血症的作用及其对肝脏胆固醇7α-羟化酶(CYP7α-1)表达的影响。方法: SPF级雄性Wistar大鼠50只,体重100 g,随机分为正常组(control)、高胆固醇组(HC)和HC+附子多糖(HC+FPS)低、中、高3个剂量组,每组10只,分别给予正常、高胆固醇及高胆固醇加附子多糖(224、448和896mg·kg^-1·d^-1 )饮食,持续2周,检测各组的血脂水平;观察control组、HC组和HC+FPS(224 mg·kg^-1·d^-1)组大鼠的体重、进食量和粪便量的变化,实验结束后取3组大鼠的肝脏行HE染色;并检测3组大鼠肝脏羟甲基戊二酰辅酶A(HMG-CoA)还原酶mRNA水平、CYP7α-1 mRNA和蛋白水平以及粪便总胆汁酸含量等方面的改变。结果: 附子多糖能显著抑制高胆固醇血症大鼠血清中总胆固醇(TC)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)的水平(P<0.05);HC+FPS组大鼠肝细胞脂肪变性较HC组轻微;real-time PCR和Western blotting结果显示附子多糖能显著上调高胆固醇大鼠肝脏CYP7α-1 mRNA水平和蛋白表达并明显降低HMG-CoA还原酶的mRNA水平(P<0.01);HC组大鼠粪便中胆汁酸的含量增多而HC+FPS组进一步增加(P<0.05)。结论: 附子多糖具有明显的降血胆固醇作用,其机制与上调CYP7α-1 mRNA及蛋白水平和下调大鼠肝脏HMG-CoA还原酶mRNA水平有关。     

Sustained upregulation of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide and bile salt export pump and downregulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase in the liver of patients with end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis

To examine the mRNA expression of hepatobiliary transporters in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients and to compare bile acid absorption, synthesis, and efflux in patients with non-end-stage and end-stage PBC, we obtained liver samples from PBC patients by percutaneous needle biopsy. End-stage PBC was defined as follows: histological stage IV; cirrhosis; serum total bilirubin, ≥4.0 mg/dl; and Child-Pugh Class C. The mRNA expression levels of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), bile salt export pump (BSEP), and hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) were significantly higher in the PBC patients than in the controls (P < 0.01). The mRNA levels of NTCP and BSEP were significantly higher in the end-stage PBC patients than in the controls (P < 0.01). However, hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA expression decreased significantly (by 70%) in the patients with end-stage PBC as compared to the controls and the patients with non-end-stage PBC (P < 0.01). The hepatic expression of transporters mediating bile acid influx and efflux showed sustained elevation, whereas that of the rate-limiting enzyme for bile acid biosynthesis was attenuated in the end-stage PBC patients. Thus, mechanisms may be present preventing the accumulation of toxic bile acids in the hepatocytes of end-stage PBC patients.     

Is autism a disorder of fatty acid metabolism? Possible dysfunction of mitochondrial beta-oxidation by long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase

Long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) has recently been shown to be the mitochondrial enzyme responsible for the beta-oxidation of branched chain and unsaturated fatty acids [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1393 (1998) 35; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1485 (2000) 121]. Whilst disorders of short, medium and very long chain acyl dehydrogenases are known, there is no known disorder of LCAD deficiency in humans. Experimental LCAD deficiency in mice shows an acyl-carnitine profile with prominent elevations of unsaturated fatty acid metabolites C14:1 and C14:2 [Hum. Mol. Genet. 10 (2001) 2069]. A child with autism whose acyl-carnitine profile also shows these abnormalities is presented, and it is hypothesized that the child may have LCAD deficiency. Additional metabolic abnormalities seen in this patient include alterations of TCA energy production, ammonia detoxification, reduced synthesis of omega-3 DHA, and abnormal cholesterol metabolism. These metabolic changes are also seen as secondary abnormalities in dysfunction of fatty acid beta-oxidation, and have also been reported in autism. It is hypothesized that LCAD deficiency may be a cause of autism. Similarities between metabolic disturbances in autism, and those of disorders of fatty acid beta-oxidation are discussed.     

The relationship between serum lipids,nucleation time,and biliary lipids in patients with gallstones

Summary The relationship between biliary lipids, cholesterol saturation index, nucleation time, and serum lipids was studied in a group of 45 gallstone patients (10 male, 35 female; age 50.1 ±14.5 years). Bile was obtained by direct fine-needle puncture of the gallbladder under local anesthesia and sonographic monitoring. No significant correlation between the serum lipids and either the cholesterol saturation index or total biliary cholesterol levels was observed. We found a positive correlation between the nucleation time and serum triglycerides content (r = 0.45, p = 0.0018) and a negative correlation between nucleation time and biliary cholesterol level (r = –0.38, p = 0.009). The fatty acids derived from the triglycerides are primarily resynthesized to phospholipids in the liver. When the supply of free fatty acids exhausts the metabolic capacity of the liver as, for example, in fat-rich diets, triglycerides accumulate in the liver cells and may possibly be excreted in the bile. Free fatty acids stimulate mucin hypersecretion in the gallbladder. This mucosal hypersecretion has been assigned a significant role in the formation of gallbladder stones. We also found a positive correlation between the total biliary bile acids and serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in patients with a rapid nucleation time (r = 0.50, p = 0.0128). This supports the findings of other researchers, which suggests that HDL-cholesterol is devoted primarily to bile acid synthesis. In patients with a short nucleation time, the cholesterol saturation index, total lipid concentration, biliary cholesterol, mean age, and biliary bile acids were statistically different in comparison with patients with a prolonged nucleation time.Abbreviations CSI cholesterol saturation index - CT computer tomography - HU Hounsfield units - NT nucleation time - TLC total lipid concentration - LDL/HDL low/high density lipoproteins - VLDL very low density lipoproteins     

Effects of portacaval shunt and transposition on fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis in rat liver

Male rats underwent either portacaval shunt or portacaval transposition; in both cases, sham-operated pair-fed rats served as controls. Three weeks after a portacaval shunt, fasting serum values of glucose (-35%) and cholesterol (-24%) were lower, and fasting plasma glucagon was higher (+65%). The wet weight of the liver and its total content in DNA, RNA, and protein decreased by 43, 40, 43, and 48%, respectively. The supernatant of liver obtained after centrifugation at 700 g incorporated less [1-14C]acetate (-56%) into fatty acids and less [1-14C]acetate (-94%) and [2-14C]mevalonate (-37%) into cholesterol. The activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase was reduced by 56%. The in vivo incorporation of [3H]H2O into liver fatty acids was 83% lower and that into liver cholesterol was 39% lower than in pair-fed controls. Several of the preceding parameters, including in vitro and in vivo labeling of hepatic fatty acids and cholesterol, were found to be mostly normal in rats with portacaval transposition. These data suggest that the reduction of fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver of rats with portacaval shunt was due to the reduction of total hepatic blood flow rather than to the diversion of portal blood constituents.     

Role of fibroblast growth factor type 1 and 2 in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury and fibrogenesis

Genomic ablation of hepatocyte-specific fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)4 in mice revealed a role of FGF signaling in cholesterol and bile acid metabolism and hepatolobular restoration in response to injury without effect on liver development or hepatocyte proliferation. Although the potential role of all 23 FGF polypeptides in the liver is still unclear, the most widely studied prototypes, FGF1 and FGF2, are present and have been implicated in liver cell growth and function in vitro. To determine whether FGF1 and FGF2 play a role in response to injury and fibrosis, we examined the impact of both acute and chronic exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) in the livers of FGF1- and FGF2-deficient mice. After acute CCl(4) exposure, FGF1(-/-)FGF2(-/-) mice exhibited an accelerated release of serum alanine aminotransferase similar to FGFR4 deficiency, but no effect on overall hepatolobular restoration or bile acid metabolism. FGF1(-/-)FGF2(-/-) mice exhibited a normal increase in alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin associated with activation and migration of hepatic stellate cells to damage, but a reduced level of hepatic stellate cell-derived matrix collagen alpha1(I) synthesis. Liver fibrosis resulting from chronic CCl(4) exposure was markedly decreased in the livers of FGF1/FGF2-deficient mice. These results suggest an agonist role for FGF1 and FGF2 in specifically insult-induced liver matrix deposition and hepatic fibrogenesis and a potential target for the prevention of hepatic fibrosis.     

Differentiation of long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders using alternative precursors and acylcarnitine profiling in fibroblasts

The differentiation of carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency (CACT) from carnitine palmitoyltransferase type II deficiency (CPT-II) and long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency from mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency (MTP) continues to be ambiguous using current acylcarnitine profiling techniques either from plasma or blood spots, or in the intact cell system (fibroblasts/amniocytes). Currently, enzyme assays are required to unequivocally differentiate CACT from CPT-II, and LCHAD from MTP. Over the years we have studied the responses of numerous FOD deficient cell lines to both even and odd numbered fatty acids of various chain lengths as well as branched-chain amino acids. In doing so, we discovered diagnostic elevations of unlabeled butyrylcarnitine detected only in CACT deficient cell lines when incubated with a shorter chain fatty acid, [7-2H3]heptanoate plus l-carnitine compared to the routinely used long-chain fatty acid, [16-2H3]palmitate. In monitoring the unlabeled C4/C5 acylcarnitine ratio, further differentiation from ETF/ETF-DH is also achieved. Similarly, incubating LCHAD and MTP deficient cell lines with the long-chain branched fatty acid, pristanic acid, and monitoring the C11/C9 acylcarnitine ratio has allowed differentiation between these disorders. These methods may be considered useful alternatives to specific enzyme assays for differentiation between these long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders, as well as provide insight into new treatment strategies.     

Fatty acid profile of plasma and liver lipids in mice depleted in long-chain polyunsaturated (n-3) fatty acids

Considering the numerous features of the metabolic syndrome found in rats depleted in long-chain polyunsaturated (n-3) fatty acids and in the perspective of further work conducted in (n-3)-depleted mice, the fatty acid profile of plasma and liver lipids was assessed in both male and female control and second-generation (n-3)-depleted mice. In addition to gender differences, the major alteration found in the (n-3)-depleted animals consisted in the expected severe depletion of plasma triacylglycerols and phospholipids, as well as liver phospholipids, in C20:5(n-3), C22:5(n-3) and C22:6(n-3). In plasma triacylglycerols, the weight percentages of C18:2(n-6) and C18:3(n-6) were lower in (n-3)-depleted mice than in control animals. In both plasma and liver phospholipids, however, the weight percentages of long-chain polyunsaturated (n-6) fatty acids (C20:4(n-6) and C22:4(n-6)) were higher in (n-3)-depleted mice than in control animals. The C16:1(n-7)/C16:0 and C18:1(n-9)/C18:0 ratio in both plasma and liver phospholipids were also increased in female (n-3)-depleted mice but not so in male animals. Highly significant correlations were found between the weight percentage of each fatty acid in liver versus plasma phospholipids. Taken as a whole, these findings indicate that second-generation mice depleted in (n-3) fatty acids represent a suitable model, in terms of the remodelling of the fatty acid profile in plasma and liver lipids, to investigate the metabolic and functional consequences of such a depletion.     

Inhibitory effect of short-term bile duct ligation on hepatic cytochrome P450 of bile acid-depleted rats.

In this study we analyzed the effect resulting from a short-term (1 h) bile duct obstruction in bile acid-depleted or taurocholate-replenished rats on liver cytochrome P450 enzyme system activity. Rats were depleted of endogenous bile acids and then subjected to a biliary obstruction for 1 h. Some of these depleted-obstructed rats were replenished previously to the obstruction with exogenous taurocholic acid (TC) and the others were treated with the solvent alone. To study the isolated effect of the bile acid, other rats were also previously depleted and then replenished with TC but they were obstructed briefly (20 min). CYP3A2-linked activity was evaluated in vivo with the aminopyrine breath test and in vitro by the measurement of nifedipine oxidase microsomal activity. The results suggested that bile flow suppression per se might inhibit this CYP-linked activity and that bile acid retention is not involved at least as a sole determinant.