Postprandial overproduction of apolipoprotein B48 (apoB48)-containing lipoproteins has been observed in states of insulin resistance and is important to the sequelae of cardiovascular disease, but little is understood about factors that regulate their secretion. The glucagon-like peptides (GLPs) are released from ileal enteroendocrine L-cells following lipid ingestion. I hypothesized that the GLPs could acutely affect the production of apoB48-containing triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (TRL) in the small intestine. Using the Syrian golden hamster, I first characterized the gross effects of the GLPs on TRL secretion in response to an oral fat load and then continued to dissect the mechanisms of these changes using primary intestinal cell cultures and a variety of knockout mouse models. An exogenous GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist was found to acutely inhibit chylomicron secretion in both hamsters and mouse models, and extending the bioactivity of endogenously-secreted GLP-1 with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor had suppressive effects in insulin-resistant fructose-fed hamsters. The insulinotropic and delayed gastric emptying functions do not completely account for the hypolipidemic effect of GLP-1R agonism, and the effect of the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 could be seen directly in the apoB48 secretion of primary enterocytes. In contrast, the sister peptide GLP-2 was a potent acute stimulator of chylomicron secretion in hamsters and mice. The hyperlipidemic effect of GLP-2 could be attributed to an increased rate of luminal FA uptake mediated by the posttranslational modification of the FA transporter CD36, and CD36-deficient mice were found to be refractory to the stimulatory effects of GLP-2. The activity of nitric oxide synthase was also found to be essential to the hyperlipidemic action of GLP-2. I identified a set of intercellular communications that could contribute in mediating the action of GLP-2, in which GLP-2 secreted from the enteroendocrine L-cell stimulates intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts to release vascular endothelial growth factor, which directly activated the enterocyte to secrete apoB48. In summary, this thesis demonstrates that two co-secreted postprandial hormones have considerable but completely opposite influences on chylomicron production. Changing the balance of the GLPs’ actions in vivo could provide a therapeutic strategy to combat postprandial dyslipidemia.

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) synthesis is partially regulated at the translational level; however, the molecular mechanisms that govern translational control of apoB mRNA remains largely unknown. We imaged intracellular apoB mRNA traffic and determined whether insulin silences apoB mRNA translation by trafficking into translationally-silenced cytoplasmic RNA granules called Processing Bodies (PBS). ApoB mRNA was visualized by using a strong interaction between the bacteriophage MS2 protein and a specific phage RNA sequence that binds MS2 protein. We observed a statistically significant increase in the localization of apoB mRNA into PBs, 4h, 8h, and 16h after insulin treatment. Conversely, acute insulin treatment (1h) did not show any significant effect. Insulin was also found to reduce polysomal association of apoB mRNA 4h and 16h post treatment in HepG2 cells. Overall, our data suggest that chronic insulin treatment silences apoB translation in HepG2 cells by localizing apoB mRNA into PBs and reducing translationally-competent mRNA pools.

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) synthesis is partially regulated at the translational level; however, the molecular mechanisms that govern translational control of apoB mRNA remains largely unknown. We imaged intracellular apoB mRNA traffic and determined whether insulin silences apoB mRNA translation by trafficking into translationally-silenced cytoplasmic RNA granules called Processing Bodies (PBS). ApoB mRNA was visualized by using a strong interaction between the bacteriophage MS2 protein and a specific phage RNA sequence that binds MS2 protein. We observed a statistically significant increase in the localization of apoB mRNA into PBs, 4h, 8h, and 16h after insulin treatment. Conversely, acute insulin treatment (1h) did not show any significant effect. Insulin was also found to reduce polysomal association of apoB mRNA 4h and 16h post treatment in HepG2 cells. Overall, our data suggest that chronic insulin treatment silences apoB translation in HepG2 cells by localizing apoB mRNA into PBs and reducing translationally-competent mRNA pools.

Postprandial overproduction of apolipoprotein B48 (apoB48)-containing lipoproteins has been observed in states of insulin resistance and is important to the sequelae of cardiovascular disease, but little is understood about factors that regulate their secretion. The glucagon-like peptides (GLPs) are released from ileal enteroendocrine L-cells following lipid ingestion. I hypothesized that the GLPs could acutely affect the production of apoB48-containing triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (TRL) in the small intestine. Using the Syrian golden hamster, I first characterized the gross effects of the GLPs on TRL secretion in response to an oral fat load and then continued to dissect the mechanisms of these changes using primary intestinal cell cultures and a variety of knockout mouse models. An exogenous GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist was found to acutely inhibit chylomicron secretion in both hamsters and mouse models, and extending the bioactivity of endogenously-secreted GLP-1 with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor had suppressive effects in insulin-resistant fructose-fed hamsters. The insulinotropic and delayed gastric emptying functions do not completely account for the hypolipidemic effect of GLP-1R agonism, and the effect of the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 could be seen directly in the apoB48 secretion of primary enterocytes. In contrast, the sister peptide GLP-2 was a potent acute stimulator of chylomicron secretion in hamsters and mice. The hyperlipidemic effect of GLP-2 could be attributed to an increased rate of luminal FA uptake mediated by the posttranslational modification of the FA transporter CD36, and CD36-deficient mice were found to be refractory to the stimulatory effects of GLP-2. The activity of nitric oxide synthase was also found to be essential to the hyperlipidemic action of GLP-2. I identified a set of intercellular communications that could contribute in mediating the action of GLP-2, in which GLP-2 secreted from the enteroendocrine L-cell stimulates intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts to release vascular endothelial growth factor, which directly activated the enterocyte to secrete apoB48. In summary, this thesis demonstrates that two co-secreted postprandial hormones have considerable but completely opposite influences on chylomicron production. Changing the balance of the GLPs’ actions in vivo could provide a therapeutic strategy to combat postprandial dyslipidemia.

Assembly of intestinal chylomicron particles (lipid-protein complexes) is the fundamental mechanism by which we absorb dietary fat. Two intestinal lipid transporters, Cluster of Differentiation 36 (CD36) and fatty acid-binding protein 1 (FABP1), have been shown to play a role in lipid absorption, however, it remains unclear how knockdown of these proteins bleads to aberrant intestinal chylomicron secretion. In an enterocyte-like cell culture model, Caco-2 cells, we hypothesized that knockdown of CD36 or FABP1 using short-hairpin RNA interference techniques would impair triacylglycerol (TG) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) secretion. Surprisingly, knockdown of these lipid transporters lead to an increase in TG and apoB secretion that was associated with an increase in fatty acid synthase and fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4) protein levels. De novo fatty acid synthesis was slightly increased in CD36-, but not FABP1-knockdown Caco-2 cells. This study highlights the importance of fatty acid targeting in regulating chylomicron production.

Assembly of intestinal chylomicron particles (lipid-protein complexes) is the fundamental mechanism by which we absorb dietary fat. Two intestinal lipid transporters, Cluster of Differentiation 36 (CD36) and fatty acid-binding protein 1 (FABP1), have been shown to play a role in lipid absorption, however, it remains unclear how knockdown of these proteins bleads to aberrant intestinal chylomicron secretion. In an enterocyte-like cell culture model, Caco-2 cells, we hypothesized that knockdown of CD36 or FABP1 using short-hairpin RNA interference techniques would impair triacylglycerol (TG) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) secretion. Surprisingly, knockdown of these lipid transporters lead to an increase in TG and apoB secretion that was associated with an increase in fatty acid synthase and fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4) protein levels. De novo fatty acid synthesis was slightly increased in CD36-, but not FABP1-knockdown Caco-2 cells. This study highlights the importance of fatty acid targeting in regulating chylomicron production.

Frankfurt (Main), Univ., Diss., 2000.

Atherosclerosis, hardening and narrowing of the arteries, is the principal underlying cause of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease, which kills more than 600,000 Americans each year. High plasma levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are linked to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in arteries. LDL is the last metabolic product of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), which is secreted from the liver along with one molecule of apolipoprotein B (apoB). Current therapies to control levels of LDL include: cholesterol synthesis inhibitors or statins, low-fat diets and antisense oligonucleotides to reduce cholesterol levels. Recent studies recommend lower clinical levels of plasma LDL to maintain an individual’s health, especially of those who have already developed atheroscle- rotic plaques. However, existing therapies are often unable to achieve these aggressive limits. Furthermore, patients have shown various levels of intolerance to these treatments. In order to develop new, targeted drugs, that can control LDL levels with minimal side effects, it is imperative to understand, in detail, the process of apoB-containing lipoprotein formation. ApoB is one of the largest human proteins known (4563 residues) and previous attempts to solve the structure have been unsuccessful, mainly due to analyzing the protein as a whole or by large sections. To advance the field we will go by a different approach. I present here a construct that represents roughly 8% of the whole protein, apoB9-17 (residues 430 to 782). This section of the protein is believed to play a pivotal role in the assembly process of LDL. My hypothesis is that this construct will be well-behaved and suitable for structural and functional analysis. The study shows that apoB9-17 can be produced in considerable quantities from bacterial cells and can be purified by means of a 6-histidine tag with a good yield. Furthermore, circular dichroism analysis shows the construct contains the expected secondary structure at room temperature and is stable at a wide temperature range (50 to 70 ◦C) at low concentrations. The construct here described will be useful to test the effect of mutations such as the one found in patients with Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL). Furthermore, this construct contains two regions believed to be of vital importance for LDL particle formation: the alpha-helical region (residues 430 to 570) is believed to associate with MTP at the initial stages of LDL formation and the c-sheet (residues 614 to 782), which may form part of the lipid recruiting process. Both essential aspects to ultimately develop therapies that can modulate VLDL particle formation.

Hepatic lipase (HL) plays a pivotal role in the catabolism of apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles through its reported catalytic and non-catalytic extracellular functions. The current study tested the hypothesis that HL expression might impair formation and secretion of hepatic derived very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and apoA-I (nascent HDL). Stable or transient expression of human HL (hHL) in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in decreased incorporation of [3H]glycerol into cell-associated and secreted (VLDL-associated) 3H-triacylglcyerol (TAG) relative to control cells. Stable expression of catalytically-inactive hHL (hHLSG) also resulted in decreased secretion of VLDL-associated 3H-TAG whereas cell-associated 3H-TAG levels were unchanged. Expression of hHL or hHLSG increased cell-associated 35S-apoB100 with relatively no change in secreted 35S-apoB100. Importantly, hHL or hHLSG expression resulted in reduced 3H-TAG associated with the microsomal lumen lipid droplets (LLD), and increased relative expression of ApoB and genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acyl oxidation. Transient expression of hHL in HL-null primary hepatocytes, mediated by adenoviral gene transfer, resulted in decreased steady-state levels of cell-associated and secreted apoA-I and reduced rates of synthesis and secretion of 35S-apoA-I. HL-null hepatocytes exhibited increased levels of secreted 35S-apoA-I relative to wildtype hepatocytes while cell-associated 35S-apoA-I levels were normal. Transient expression of a hHL chimera (hHLmt), in which the C-terminus of hHL was replaced with mouse HL sequences, exerted an inhibitory effect on apoA-I production similar to that of hHL even though hHLmt was secreted less effectively than hHL with impaired exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as compared with hHL. In contrast, stable expression of hHL in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell-associated and secreted 35S-apoA-I levels. These studies demonstrate that hHL has an intracellular (but non-catalytic) role in reducing the content of the LLD and ultimately the buoyancy of secreted VLDL particles, and that the N-terminal sequences of ER-residing hHL directly or indirectly modulates the production and secretion of apoA-I (nascent HDL) from hepatocytes.

Hepatic lipase (HL) plays a pivotal role in the catabolism of apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles through its reported catalytic and non-catalytic extracellular functions. The current study tested the hypothesis that HL expression might impair formation and secretion of hepatic derived very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and apoA-I (nascent HDL). Stable or transient expression of human HL (hHL) in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in decreased incorporation of [3H]glycerol into cell-associated and secreted (VLDL-associated) 3H-triacylglcyerol (TAG) relative to control cells. Stable expression of catalytically-inactive hHL (hHLSG) also resulted in decreased secretion of VLDL-associated 3H-TAG whereas cell-associated 3H-TAG levels were unchanged. Expression of hHL or hHLSG increased cell-associated 35S-apoB100 with relatively no change in secreted 35S-apoB100. Importantly, hHL or hHLSG expression resulted in reduced 3H-TAG associated with the microsomal lumen lipid droplets (LLD), and increased relative expression of ApoB and genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acyl oxidation. Transient expression of hHL in HL-null primary hepatocytes, mediated by adenoviral gene transfer, resulted in decreased steady-state levels of cell-associated and secreted apoA-I and reduced rates of synthesis and secretion of 35S-apoA-I. HL-null hepatocytes exhibited increased levels of secreted 35S-apoA-I relative to wildtype hepatocytes while cell-associated 35S-apoA-I levels were normal. Transient expression of a hHL chimera (hHLmt), in which the C-terminus of hHL was replaced with mouse HL sequences, exerted an inhibitory effect on apoA-I production similar to that of hHL even though hHLmt was secreted less effectively than hHL with impaired exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as compared with hHL. In contrast, stable expression of hHL in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell-associated and secreted 35S-apoA-I levels. These studies demonstrate that hHL has an intracellular (but non-catalytic) role in reducing the content of the LLD and ultimately the buoyancy of secreted VLDL particles, and that the N-terminal sequences of ER-residing hHL directly or indirectly modulates the production and secretion of apoA-I (nascent HDL) from hepatocytes.