Administration of a PPARα agonist increases serum apolipoprotein A-V levels and the apolipoprotein A-V/apolipoprotein C-III ratio

Abstract

Apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) first gained attention as a regulator of triglycerides through transgenic mouse studies. Furthermore, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) agonists such as fenofibrate increase apoA-V mRNA expression. Our group recently developed the first assay to quantitate serum apoA-V levels. Therefore, we sought to determine whether administration of a PPARα agonist would increase circulating apoA-V. Cynomolgus monkeys were dosed for 14 days with 0.3 mg/kg/day LY570977 l-lysine, a potent and selective PPARα agonist. Blood samples were drawn throughout the treatment period and after a 2 week washout. Administration of the PPARα agonist caused a 50% decrease in triglycerides that reversed at washout. Serum apoA-V concentrations increased 2-fold, correlated inversely with triglycerides, and were reversible at washout. The apoA-V/apoC-III ratio increased >2-fold, with this increase also reversible at washout.These data demonstrate for the first time that a PPARα agonist increases circulating apoA-V protein levels and the apoA-V/apoC-III ratio.

Keywords

• triglycerides
• cholesterol
• enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
• lipids
• cynomolgus monkeys
• peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α