Overactive endocannabinoid signaling impairs apolipoprotein E-mediated clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Abstract

The endocannabinoid (EC) system regulates food intake and energy metabolism. Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) antagonists show promise in the treatment of obesity and its metabolic consequences. Although the reduction in adiposity resulting from therapy with CB1 antagonists may not account fully for the concomitant improvements in dyslipidemia, direct effects of overactive EC signaling on plasma lipoprotein metabolism have not been documented. The present study used a chemical approach to evaluate the direct effects of increased EC signaling in mice by inducing acute elevations of endogenously produced cannabinoids through pharmacological inhibition of their enzymatic hydrolysis by isopropyl dodecylfluorophosphonate (IDFP). Acute IDFP treatment increased plasma levels of triglyceride (TG) (2.0- to 3.1-fold) and cholesterol (1.3- to 1.4-fold) in conjunction with an accumulation in plasma of apolipoprotein (apo)E-depleted TG-rich lipoproteins. These changes did not occur in either CB1-null or apoE-null mice, were prevented by pretreatment with CB1 antagonists, and were not associated with reduced hepatic apoE gene expression. Although IDFP treatment increased hepatic mRNA levels of lipogenic genes (Srebp1 and Fas), there was no effect on TG secretion into plasma. Instead, IDFP treatment impaired clearance of an intravenously administered TG emulsion, despite increased postheparin lipoprotein lipase activity. Therefore, overactive EC signaling elicits an increase in plasma triglyceride levels associated with reduced plasma TG clearance and an accumulation in plasma of apoE-depleted TG-rich lipoproteins. These findings suggest a role of CB1 activation in the pathogenesis of obesity-related hypertriglyceridemia and underscore the potential efficacy of CB1 antagonists in treating metabolic disease.

• Authors: Maxwell A Ruby, Daniel K Nomura, Carolyn S S Hudak, Lara M Mangravite, Sally Chiu, John E Casida, Ronald M Krauss
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 105 Issue 38 Pg. 14561-6 (Sep 23 2008) ISSN: 1091-6490 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18794527 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoproteins E
• Arachidonic Acids
• Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
• Endocannabinoids
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Glycerides
• Lipids
• Lipoproteins
• Organophosphonates
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
• Triglycerides
• glyceryl 2-arachidonate
• Cholesterol
• Lipase

Topics

• Animals
• Apolipoproteins E (metabolism)
• Arachidonic Acids (metabolism)
• Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators (metabolism)
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Endocannabinoids
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Glycerides (metabolism)
• Lipase (metabolism)
• Lipid Metabolism (drug effects)
• Lipids (blood)
• Lipoproteins (blood, metabolism)
• Liver (drug effects, enzymology, metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Organophosphonates (pharmacology)
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Triglycerides (blood, metabolism)