Fenretinide treatment accelerates atherosclerosis development in apoE-deficient mice in spite of beneficial metabolic effects.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Fenretinide, a synthetic retinoid derivative first investigated for cancer prevention and treatment, has been shown to ameliorate glucose tolerance, improve plasma lipid profile and reduce body fat mass. These effects, together with its ability to inhibit ceramide synthesis, suggest that fenretinide may have an anti-atherosclerotic action.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH:

To this aim, nine-week-old apoE-knockout (EKO) female mice were fed for twelve weeks a Western diet, without (control) or with (0.1% w/w) fenretinide. As a reference, wild-type (WT) mice were treated similarly. Growth and metabolic parameters were monitored throughout the study. Atherosclerosis development was evaluated in the aorta and at the aortic sinus. Blood and lymphoid organs were further characterized with thorough cytological/histological and immunocytofluorimetric analyses.

KEY RESULTS:

Fenretinide treatment significantly lowered body weight, glucose levels and plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids. In the liver, fenretinide remarkably reduced hepatic glycogenosis and steatosis driven by the Western diet. Treated spleens were abnormally enlarged, with severe follicular atrophy and massive extramedullary haematopoiesis. Severe renal hemosiderin deposition was observed in treated EKO mice. Treatment resulted in a threefold increase of total leukocytes (WT and EKO) and raised the activated/resting monocyte ratio in EKO mice. Finally, atherosclerosis development was markedly increased at the aortic arch, thoracic and abdominal aorta of fenretinide-treated mice.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:

We provide the first evidence that, despite beneficial metabolic effects, fenretinide treatment may enhance the development of atherosclerosis.

• Authors: Marco Busnelli, Stefano Manzini, Fabrizia Bonacina, Sabina Soldati, Silvia Stella Barbieri, Patrizia Amadio, Leonardo Sandrini, Francesca Arnaboldi, Elena Donetti, Reijo Laaksonen, Saverio Paltrinieri, Eugenio Scanziani, Giulia Chiesa
• Journal: British journal of pharmacology (Br J Pharmacol) Vol. 177 Issue 2 Pg. 328-345 (01 2020) ISSN: 1476-5381 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31621898 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2019 The British Pharmacological Society.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Blood Glucose
• Lipids
• Fenretinide

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (toxicity)
• Aorta (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Aortic Diseases (chemically induced, genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Atherosclerosis (chemically induced, genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Blood Glucose (drug effects, metabolism)
• Diet, Western
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Progression
• Energy Metabolism (drug effects)
• Female
• Fenretinide (toxicity)
• Lipids (blood)
• Liver (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout, ApoE
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic
• Spleen (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Weight Loss (drug effects)