Aspirin reduces hypertriglyceridemia by lowering VLDL-triglyceride production in mice fed a high-fat diet

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Dec;301(6):E1099-107. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00185.2011. Epub 2011 Aug 23.

Abstract

Systemic inflammation is strongly involved in the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic risk factors that includes hypertriglyceridemia. Aspirin treatment lowers inflammation via inhibition of NF-κB activity but also reduces hypertriglyceridemia in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which aspirin improves hypertriglyceridemia. Human apolipoprotein CI (apoCI)-expressing mice (APOC1 mice), an animal model with elevated plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, as well as normolipidemic wild-type (WT) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated with aspirin. Aspirin treatment reduced hepatic NF-κB activity in HFD-fed APOC1 and WT mice, and in addition, aspirin decreased plasma TG levels (-32%, P < 0.05) in hypertriglyceridemic APOC1 mice. This TG-lowering effect could not be explained by enhanced VLDL-TG clearance, but aspirin selectively reduced hepatic production of VLDL-TG in both APOC1 (-28%, P < 0.05) and WT mice (-33%, P < 0.05) without affecting VLDL-apoB production. Aspirin did not alter hepatic expression of genes involved in FA oxidation, lipogenesis, and VLDL production but decreased the incorporation of plasma-derived FA by the liver into VLDL-TG (-24%, P < 0.05), which was independent of hepatic expression of genes involved in FA uptake and transport. We conclude that aspirin improves hypertriglyceridemia by decreasing VLDL-TG production without affecting VLDL particle production. Therefore, the inhibition of inflammatory pathways by aspirin could be an interesting target for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Apolipoprotein C-I / genetics
  • Aspirin / pharmacology*
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Diet, High-Fat* / adverse effects
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / blood
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / etiology
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / metabolism
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / prevention & control*
  • Lipoproteins, VLDL / blood
  • Lipoproteins, VLDL / metabolism*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Triglycerides / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Apolipoprotein C-I
  • Lipoproteins, VLDL
  • NF-kappa B
  • Triglycerides
  • very low density lipoprotein triglyceride
  • Aspirin