3.4.1. The Effects of Insulin Resistance on TRL Metabolism
Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes develop due to insulin resistance. Here, we think about the effects of insulin resistance on postprandial hyperlipidemia and TRL (
Figure 2). Our previous studies showed that the characteristics in dyslipidemia due to insulin resistance is reduced HDL-C, and increased IDL-C (VLDLR-C) and VLDL-C, which is further deteriorated by complication with obesity [
48,
49,
50,
51,
52]. The metabolism of FFA is altered in insulin resistance. The enzymes LPL and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) are rate-limiting steps for the turnover of FFA in adipose tissue, because LPL hydrolyzes extracellular TG in lipoproteins and HSL hydrolyzes intracellular TG in adipocytes. Relative insulin deficiency due to insulin resistance increases HSL activity and expression in adipose tissue, which catalyzes the breakdown of TG, releasing FFA [
53]. Hepatic insulin resistance reduces apo B100 degradation [
54]. Insulin resistance increases expression of microsomal TG transfer protein (MTP), a key enzyme involved in VLDL assembly [
55]. In an insulin-resistant-state, an increased FFA entry to liver, reduced degradation of apoB100 and enhanced expression of MTP may elevate hepatic production of VLDL. Insulin resistance also causes an increased expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), which increases FA synthesis [
56].
The VLDL receptor binds TRL but not LDL, and functions as a peripheral remnant lipoproteins receptor. The VLDL receptor is expressed abundantly in FA metabolism-active tissues such as heart, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. It is likely that VLDL receptor functions in concert with LPL, which hydrolyses TG in VLDL and CM. In contrast to the LDL receptor, the gene therapy of VLDL receptor into the liver showed a benefit effect for lipoprotein metabolism in both LDL receptor knockout and apo E mutant mice [
57]. The VLDL receptor mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in hypercholesterolemic, hypertriglyceridemic diabetic rats compared with normal rats [
58]. And in vitro, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, insulin-induced insulin resistance significantly decreased VLDL-R mRNA expression.
Insulin resistance also reduces LPL activity. LPL is the rate-limiting enzyme for the catabolism of TRL such as CM, VLDL and IDL [
59]. Therefore, the reduced LPL activity decrease the catabolism of TRL such as VLDL.
Apo CIII is produced in the liver and small intestine and has an inhibitory effect for LPL activity. Overexpression of apo CIII in the plasma of transgenic mice results in hypertriglyceridemia, with up to a 20-fold elevation in plasma TG [
60]. Total apo B100 levels are similar in transgenic and normal plasma, but apoB48 levels are increased in transgenic mice, which was corrected by the addition of exogenous apo E. The rate of clearance of CMR in apo CIII-transgenic mice was about half that in non-transgenic mice. The lipoprotein alterations are accompanied by up to a 5-fold increase in FFA, which may be the cause of increased hepatic TG production observed in the apo CIII-transgenic mice. Apo CIII modulates the apo E-mediated clearance of TG-rich lipoproteins.
Overweight individuals with reduced insulin sensitivity often have mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia. Increased hepatic production of VLDL apo CIII is characteristic of subjects with higher body weights and lower levels of insulin sensitivity and is strongly related to the plasma concentration and level of production of VLDL-TG [
61].
A significant and positive correlation was present between the plasma HDL-C level and LPL activity in adipose tissue, suggesting that the activity of LPL in adipose tissue and the rate of catabolism of TRL might be one of the factors that determine the concentration of HDL in plasma [
62]. In conditions with increased atherosclerotic risk, HL activity is often high. HL activity increases with the degree of insulin-resistance in type 2 diabetes and with omental fat mass in women [
63,
64]. In FCHL and type 2 diabetes, HL may contribute to the development of the atherogenic lipid profile, characterized by low HDL-C levels and the presence of Sd-LDL [
63,
65]. HL plays a central role in LDL and HDL remodeling. High HL activity is associated with increased Sd-LDL and with reduced HDL-C levels [
66]. HL activity is determined by visceral obesity with insulin resistance. The dyslipidemia with high HL activity is a potentially proatherogenic lipoprotein profile in the metabolic syndrome, in type 2 diabetes, and in FCHL.
Insulin modulates LDL-R expression and activity. The inactivity of insulin represses LDL-R transcription [
67], however, the association of reduced LDL-R with postprandial hyperlipidemia remains unknown. NPC1L1 plays a pivotal role in intestinal cholesterol absorption. CM and VLDL are abnormally increased in patients with diabetes. The expression of NPC1L1 and MTP was investigated in non-diabetic rats and diabetic cholesterol-fed rats [
68]. There was a positive correlation between intestinal NPC1L1 mRNA and CM cholesterol. The diabetic rats had significantly higher CM and VLDL-C, TG, and apo B-48 and B-100 levels compared with control rats. They had significantly increased NPC1L1 and MTP mRNA in both liver and intestine. Levels of NPC1L1 and MTP mRNA were measured in duodenal biopsies of type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients [
69]. Diabetic patients had more NPC1L1 mRNA than the control subjects. MTP expression was increased in diabetic patients. There was a positive correlation between NPLC1L1 and MTP mRNA. Increased expression of NPC1L1 and MTP is highly associated with postprandial hyperlipidemia. Postprandial hyperlipidemia is characterized by an increase of CMR. Apo B48 exists exclusively in CM and CMR, and fasting plasma levels of apo B48 may reflect high postprandial levels of such lipoproteins. Apo B48 was significantly higher in men and women with than without metabolic syndrome [
70]. Fasting apo B48 levels were raised in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Another study showed that fasting apo B48 concentration was 40 % higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome than those without metabolic syndrome [
71].
The LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is an endocytic and signaling receptor that is expressed in several tissues. It is involved in the clearance of CMR from circulation [
72]. LRP1 is involved in insulin receptor trafficking and intracellular signaling activity, which have an impact on the regulation of glucose homeostasis in adipocytes, muscle cells, and brain [
72]. Insulin stimulates the translocation of hepatic LRP1 from intracellular vesicles to the plasma membrane, which correlates with an increased uptake of LRP1-specific ligands [
73]. In wild-type mice, a glucose-induced insulin response increased the hepatic uptake of LRP1 ligands while in obese mice with hepatic insulin resistance, insulin-inducible LRP1 ligand uptake was abolished. An impaired hepatic LRP1 translocation can contribute to the postprandial hyperlipidemia in insulin resistance. Apo B-containing lipoprotein particles are secreted and cleared by the liver. Insulin plays a key role in the regulation of apo B. Insulin decreases apo B secretion by promoting apo B degradation in the hepatocyte [
74]. Insulin also promotes clearance of circulating apo B particles by the liver via the LDL-R and LRP1 [
74]. The insulin-resistant state is associated with increased secretion and decreased clearance of apo B.
3.4.2. Postprandial Hyperlipidemia in Patients with Obesity and/or Type 2 Diabetes
The OFLT demonstrated that patients with type 2 diabetes showed larger AUC of TG (873.3 ± 527.8 vs. 647.0 ± 218.6 mmol/L), CM-rich TG (CM or CMR) (440.9 ± 317.5 vs. 230.8 ± 125.4) and CM-poor TG (VLDL or VLDLR) (479.5 ± 235.7 vs. 363.7 ± 122.9) than healthy subjects [
75]. In both healthy and type 2 diabetic subjects, total AUC of TG was significantly correlated with fasting TG levels.
The OFLT was performed in 12 type 2 diabetic obese, 15 non-diabetic obese, and 12 non-diabetic non-obese (control) adolescents [
76]. The TG-AUC was significantly greater in the diabetes group than in the other two groups. Incremental TG response in the diabetes group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was greater in the diabetes group than in the obese and control groups. The delta TG in the subgroup with high fasting TG was substantially greater than in the subgroup with normal fasting TG. The TG-AUC was much greater in the high than normal fasting TG subgroup. HOMA was greater in the high than normal fasting TG subgroup. The degree of insulin resistance determined the degree of postprandial hyperlipidemia.
Serum levels of RLP-C and RLP-TG were measured in 541 subjects [
77]. After matching for sex, age, and body weight, serum RLP-C in normal, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and diabetic groups were 4.2 ± 1.7, 6.2 ± 3.4, and 6.2 ± 4.2 mg/dl, respectively. The corresponding RLP-TG values were 16.7 ± 9.2, 28.0 ± 19.1, and 29.0 ± 27.2 mg/dl. RLP-C and RLP-TG values were significantly higher in the IGT and diabetic groups compared with the normal group (p < 0.001). Further, the incidence of remnant hyperlipoproteinemia in normocholesterolemic subjects was up to four times higher in IGT and diabetic groups compared with the normal group.