Low cardiac lipolysis reduces mitochondrial fission and prevents lipotoxic heart dysfunction in Perilipin 5 mutant mice.

AIMS: Lipotoxic cardiomyopathy in diabetic and obese patients typically encompasses increased cardiac fatty acid (FA) uptake eventually surpassing the mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Lowering FA utilization via inhibition of lipolysis represents a strategy to counteract the development of lipotoxic heart dysfunction. However, defective cardiac triacylglycerol (TAG) catabolism and FA oxidation in humans (and mice) carrying mutated ATGL alleles provokes lipotoxic heart dysfunction questioning a therapeutic approach to decrease cardiac lipolysis. Interestingly, decreased lipolysis via cardiac overexpression of Perilipin 5 (Plin5), a binding partner of ATGL, is compatible with normal heart function and lifespan despite massive cardiac lipid accumulation. Herein, we decipher mechanisms that protect Plin5 transgenic mice from the development of heart dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We generated mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Plin5 encoding a serine-155 to alanine exchange (Plin5-S155A) of the protein kinase A phosphorylation site, which has been suggested as a prerequisite to stimulate lipolysis and may play a crucial role in the preservation of heart function. Plin5-S155A mice showed a substantial increase in cardiac TAG and ceramide levels, which was comparable to mice overexpressing non-mutated Plin5. Lipid accumulation was compatible with normal heart function even under mild stress. Plin5-S155A mice showed reduced cardiac FA oxidation but normal ATP production and changes in the Plin5-S155A phosphoproteome compared to Plin5 transgenic mice. Interestingly, mitochondrial recruitment of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) was markedly reduced in cardiac muscle of Plin5-S155A and Plin5 transgenic mice accompanied by decreased phosphorylation of mitochondrial fission factor, a mitochondrial receptor of Drp1. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that low cardiac lipolysis is associated with reduced mitochondrial fission and may represent a strategy to combat the development of lipotoxic heart dysfunction.

Intestine-Specific Overexpression of Carboxylesterase 2c Protects Mice From Diet-Induced Liver Steatosis and Obesity.

Murine hepatic carboxylesterase 2c (Ces2c) and the presumed human ortholog carboxylesterase 2 (CES2) have been implicated in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice and obese humans. These studies demonstrated that Ces2c hydrolyzes triglycerides (TGs) in hepatocytes. Interestingly, Ces2c/CES2 is most abundantly expressed in the intestine, indicating a role of Ces2c/CES2 in intestinal TG metabolism. Here we show that Ces2c is an important enzyme in intestinal lipid metabolism in mice. Intestine-specific Ces2c overexpression (Ces2cint) provoked increased fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in the small intestine accompanied by enhanced chylomicron clearance from the circulation. As a consequence, high-fat diet-fed Ces2cint mice were resistant to excessive diet-induced weight gain and adipose tissue expansion. Notably, intestinal Ces2c overexpression increased hepatic insulin sensitivity and protected mice from NAFLD development. Although lipid absorption was not affected in Ces2cint mice, fecal energy content was significantly increased. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Ces2c is a potent neutral lipase, which efficiently hydrolyzes TGs and diglycerides (DGs) in the small intestine, thereby generating fatty acids (FAs) for FAO and monoglycerides (MGs) and DGs for potential re-esterification. Consequently, the increased availability of MGs and DGs for re-esterification and primordial apolipoprotein B48 particle lipidation may increase chylomicron size, ultimately mediating more efficient chylomicron clearance from the circulation. Conclusion: This study suggests a critical role for Ces2c in intestinal lipid metabolism and highlights the importance of intestinal lipolysis to protect mice from the development of hepatic insulin resistance, NAFLD, and excessive diet-induced weight gain during metabolic stress.

Hepatocyte-specific lysosomal acid lipase deficiency protects mice from diet-induced obesity but promotes hepatic inflammation.

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) hydrolyzes cholesteryl esters (CE) and triglycerides (TG) to generate fatty acids (FA) and cholesterol. LAL deficiency (LAL-D) in both humans and mice leads to hepatomegaly, hypercholesterolemia, and shortened life span. Despite its essential role in lysosomal neutral lipid catabolism, the cell type-specific contribution of LAL to disease progression is still elusive. To investigate the role of LAL in the liver in more detail and to exclude the contribution of LAL in macrophages, we generated hepatocyte-specific LAL-deficient mice (Liv-Lipa-/-) and fed them either chow or high fat/high cholesterol diets (HF/HCD). Comparable to systemic LAL-D, Liv-Lipa-/- mice were resistant to diet-induced obesity independent of food intake, movement, and energy expenditure. Reduced body weight gain was mainly due to reduced white adipose tissue depots. Furthermore, Liv-Lipa-/- mice exhibited improved glucose clearance during glucose and insulin tolerance tests compared to control mice. Analysis of hepatic lipid content revealed a massive reduction of TG, whereas CE concentrations were markedly increased, leading to CE crystal formation in the livers of Liv-Lipa-/- mice. Elevated plasma transaminase activities, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines as well as hepatic macrophage infiltration indicated liver inflammation. Our data provide evidence that hepatocyte-specific LAL deficiency is sufficient to alter whole-body lipid and energy homeostasis in mice. We conclude that hepatic LAL plays a pivotal role by preventing liver damage and maintaining lipid and energy homeostasis, especially during high lipid availability.