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Folkert Kuipers

Publications and source records attributed to Folkert Kuipers.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Stimulation of lipogenesis by pharmacological activation of the liver X receptor leads to production of large, triglyceride-rich very low density lipoprotein particles.

The oxysterol-activated liver X receptor (LXR) provides a link between sterol and fatty acid metabolism; activation of LXR induces transcription of lipogenic genes. This study shows that induction of the lipogenic genes Srebp-1c, Fas, and Acc1 upon administration of the synthetic LXR agonist T0901317 to C57BL/6J mice (10 mg/kg/day, 4 days) is associated with massive hepatic steatosis along the entire liver lobule and a 2.5-fold increase in very low density lipoprotein-triglyceride (VLDL-TG) secretion. The increased VLDL-TG secretion was fully accounted for by formation of larger (129 +/- 9 nm versus 94 +/- 12 nm, a 2.5-fold increase of particle volume) TG-rich particles. Stimulation of VLDL-TG secretion did not lead to elevated plasma TG levels in C57BL/6J mice, indicating efficient particle metabolism and clearance. However, T0901317 treatment did lead to severe hypertriglyceridemia in mouse models of defective TG-rich lipoprotein clearance, i.e. APOE*3-Leiden transgenic mice (3.2-fold increase) and apoE-/- LDLr-/- double knockouts (12-fold increase). Incubation of rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 cells with T0901317 also resulted in intracellular TG accumulation and enhanced TG secretion. We conclude that, in addition to raising high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, pharmacological LXR activation in mice leads to development of hepatic steatosis and secretion of atherogenic, large TG-rich VLDL particles.

Animals↗

Clofibrate improves glucose tolerance in fat-fed rats but decreases hepatic glucose consumption capacity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: High-fat (HF) diets cause glucose intolerance. Fibrates improve glucose tolerance. We have tried to obtain information on possible hepatic mechanisms contributing to this effect. METHODS: Rats were fed a HF diet, isocaloric with the control diet, for 3 weeks without or with clofibrate. Several parameters related to liver glucose and glycogen metabolism were measured. RESULTS: Clofibrate prevented the induction of glucose intolerance by 3 weeks HF feeding. Improved glucose tolerance by clofibrate was not due to increases in glucose phosphorylation or glycolysis in the liver, since both the HF diet and clofibrate suppressed glucokinase and pyruvate kinase activities with no effect on glucose 6-phosphatase. Clofibrate decreased glycogen storage in both control and HF rats. Clofibrate, with and without HF feeding, inhibited weight gain during the experimental period. Body temperature was significantly elevated by clofibrate, indicative of an increased basal metabolic rate. The capacity of liver mitochondria to oxidize long-chain fatty acids increased by clofibrate treatment. Mitochondria did not show uncoupling. CONCLUSIONS: Clofibrate does not improve glucose tolerance by improving hepatic glucose or glycogen metabolism. Peripheral glucose oxidation may be facilitated by increased energy dissipation.

Animal Feed↗

Effects of bile salt flux variations on the expression of hepatic bile salt transporters in vivo in mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Expression of hepatic bile salt transporters is partly regulated by bile salts via activation of nuclear farnesoid X-activated receptor (Fxr). We investigated the physiological relevance of this regulation by evaluating transporter expression in mice experiencing different transhepatic bile salt fluxes. METHODS: Bile salt flux was manipulated by dietary supplementation with taurocholate (0.5% w/w) or cholestyramine (2% w/w) or by disruption of the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase-gene (Cyp7A(-/-) mice) leading to reduced bile salt pool size. Expression of hepatic transporters was assessed (polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry). RESULTS: Biliary bile salt secretion was increased (+350%) or decreased (-50%) after taurocholate or cholestyramine feeding, respectively, but plasma bile salt concentrations and hepatic Fxr expression were not affected. The bile salt uptake system Na(+)-taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (Ntcp) and organic anion transporting polypeptide-1 (Oatp1) were down-regulated by taurocholate and not affected by cholestyramine feeding. Cyp7A(-/-) mice did not show altered Ntcp or Oatp1 expression. Canalicular bile salt export pump (Bsep) was up-regulated by 65% in taurocholate-fed mice, and slightly down-regulated in Cyp7A(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Large variations in hepatic bile salt flux have minor effects on expression of murine Ntcp and Bsep in vivo, suggesting that these transporters are abundantly expressed and able to accommodate a wide range of 'physiological' bile salt fluxes.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Differential effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on expression of hepatic ABC-transporters in rats.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Diabetes mellitus is associated with changes in bile formation. The aim of our study was to investigate the molecular basis for these changes in rats with experimentally induced diabetes. METHODS: Expression of bile canalicular transporters was studied by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry in control, streptozotocin-diabetic, and insulin-treated diabetic rats. Bile formation was studied under basal conditions and during stepwise increasing intravenous infusion of taurocholate to determine bile salt secretory rate maximum (SRm). RESULTS: In diabetic rats, hepatic gene and protein expression of the multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein type 2 (Mdr2) were increased by 105% and 530%, respectively, associated with increased biliary phospholipid output (+520%) and phospholipid/bile salt ratio (+77%). Protein levels of the canalicular bile salt export pump (Bsep) were unchanged in diabetic rats, but basal biliary bile salt output and the SRm of taurocholate were increased by 260% and 130%, respectively, compared with controls. Alterations in transporter expression and bile formation were partly reversed by insulin administration. The bile salt SRm was strongly correlated with biliary phospholipid concentration (P < 0.001, R = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Induction of Mdr2 expression and biliary phospholipid secretion, rather than Bsep expression, appears to be responsible for the enhanced capacity of biliary bile salt secretion in experimentally induced diabetes.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Mdr P-glycoproteins are not essential for biliary excretion of the hydrophobic heme precursor protoporphyrin in a griseofulvin-induced mouse model of erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Hepatic complications in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) have been attributed to toxic actions of accumulated protoporphyrin (PP). PP can only be removed via the bile but transport systems involved have not been defined. The aim of this study was to gain insight in the mode of biliary PP excretion, with emphasis on the potential contribution of the Mdr1 P-glycoprotein export pump and biliary lipids as PP carriers. Control mice and mice homozygous for Mdr1a/b (Abcb1) or Mdr2 (Abcb4) gene disruption, the latter unable to secrete phospholipids and cholesterol into bile, were treated with griseofulvin to chemically induce protoporphyria. All groups showed dramatically increased PP levels in erythrocytes and liver after griseofulvin treatment. Histologically, massive PP deposits were found in livers of control and Mdr1a/b(-/-) mice but not in those of Mdr2(-/-) mice. Serum unesterified cholesterol and phospholipids were increased by griseofulvin because of formation of lipoprotein-X in control and Mdr1a/b(-/-) mice only. Yet, bile flow was not impaired in griseofulvin-treated mice, and biliary bile salt, phospholipid, and cholesterol secretion rates were significantly increased. Surprisingly, biliary PP excretion was similar in all 3 groups of griseofulvin-treated mice: the observed linear relationship between hepatic and biliary PP concentrations and identical liver-to-bile concentration ratios in treated and untreated mice suggest a passive mode of excretion. In conclusion, the data show that Mdr P-glycoproteins are not critically involved in biliary removal of excess PP and indicate that the presence of biliary lipids is required for formation of intrahepatic PP deposits.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗

Increased lipogenesis and resistance of lipoproteins to oxidative modification in two patients with glycogen storage disease type 1a.

We describe 2 patients with glycogen storage disease type 1a and severe hyperlipidemia without premature atherosclerosis. Susceptibility of low-density lipoproteins to oxidation was decreased, possibly related to the ~40-fold increase in palmitate synthesis altering lipoprotein saturated fatty acid contents. These findings are potentially relevant for antihyperlipidemic treatment in patients with glycogen storage disease type 1a.

Adult↗

The effect of carbohydrate and fat variation in euenergetic diets on postabsorptive free fatty acid release.

Diet composition and energy content modulate free fatty acid (FFA) release. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dose-response effects of euenergetic variations in dietary carbohydrate and fat content on postabsorptive FFA release. The rate of appearance (Ra) of palmitate was measured by infusion of [2,2-2H2]palmitate after an overnight fast in six healthy men on three separate occasions, i.e. after 7 d on euenergetic control, high-carbohydrate and high-fat diets. The protein content and composition was identical for each diet. Postabsorptive plasma fatty acid concentrations were not different between the high-carbohydrate and control diets (0.36 (se 0.07) v. 0.43 (se 0.04) mmol/l), but were increased after the high-fat diet (0.75 (se 0.09) mmol/l, (P<0.01 compared with the other diets). Ra palmitate was not different between the high-carbohydrate and control diets (1.36 (se 0.20) v. 1.47 (se 0.15) micromol/kg per min). However, Ra palmitate was increased to 2.36 (se 0.26) micromol/kg per min after the high-fat diet (P<0.01 compared with the other diets). The fatty acid flux and whole-body fat oxidation were not affected by the high-carbohydrate diet compared with the control diet, but were increased by 67 and 47 % respectively, on the high-fat diet (P<0.01 compared with the other diets). A euenergetic high-fat diet results in increased postabsorptive FFA release and fat oxidation, whereas a euenergetic high-carbohydrate diet does not affect these variables of fat metabolism.

Adult↗

Fat malabsorption in essential fatty acid-deficient mice is not due to impaired bile formation.

Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency induces fat malabsorption, but the pathophysiological mechanism is unknown. Bile salts (BS) and EFA-rich biliary phospholipids affect dietary fat solubilization and chylomicron formation, respectively. We investigated whether altered biliary BS and/or phospholipid secretion mediate EFA deficiency-induced fat malabsorption in mice. Free virus breed (FVB) mice received EFA-containing (EFA(+)) or EFA-deficient (EFA(-)) chow for 8 wk. Subsequently, fat absorption, bile flow, and bile composition were determined. Identical dietary experiments were performed in multidrug resistance gene-2-deficient [Mdr2((-/-))] mice, secreting phospholipid-free bile. After 8 wk, EFA(-)-fed wild-type [Mdr2((+/+))] and Mdr2((-/-)) mice were markedly EFA deficient [plasma triene (20:3n-9)-to-tetraene (20:4n-6) ratio >0.2]. Fat absorption decreased (70.1 +/- 4.2 vs. 99.1 +/- 0.3%, P < 0.001), but bile flow and biliary BS secretion increased in EFA(-) mice compared with EFA(+) controls (4.87 +/- 0.36 vs. 2.87 +/- 0.29 microl x min(-1) x 100 g body wt(-1), P < 0.001, and 252 +/- 30 vs. 145 +/- 20 nmol x min(-1) x 100 g body wt(-1), P < 0.001, respectively). BS composition was similar in EFA(+)- and EFA(-)-fed mice. Similar to EFA(-) Mdr2((+/+)) mice, EFA(-) Mdr2((-/-)) mice developed fat malabsorption associated with twofold increase in bile flow and BS secretion. Fat malabsorption in EFA(-) mice is not due to impaired biliary BS or phospholipid secretion. We hypothesize that EFA deficiency affects intracellular processing of dietary fat by enterocytes.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗

Bile acid-activated nuclear receptor FXR suppresses apolipoprotein A-I transcription via a negative FXR response element.

Serum levels of HDL are inversely correlated with the risk of coronary heart disease. The anti-atherogenic effect of HDL is partially mediated by its major protein constituent apoA-I. In this study, we identify bile acids that are activators of the nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) as negative regulators of human apoA-I expression. Intrahepatocellular accumulation of bile acids, as seen in patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis and biliary atresia, was associated with diminished apoA-I serum levels. In human apoA-I transgenic mice, treatment with the FXR agonist taurocholic acid strongly decreased serum concentrations and liver mRNA levels of human apoA-I, which was associated with reduced serum HDL levels. Incubation of human primary hepatocytes and hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells with bile acids resulted in a dose-dependent downregulation of apoA-I expression. Promoter mutation analysis and gel-shift experiments in HepG2 cells demonstrated that bile acid-activated FXR decreases human apoA-I promoter activity by a negative FXR response element mapped to the C site. FXR bound this site and repressed transcription in a manner independent of retinoid X receptor. The nonsteroidal synthetic FXR agonist GW4064 likewise decreased apoA-I mRNA levels and promoter activity in HepG2 cells.

Animals↗