Effect of hyperlipidemia on 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase, glucocorticoid receptor, and leptin expression in insulin-sensitive tissues of cats

Sieber-Ruckstuhl, Nadja S.; Zini, Eric; Osto, Melanie; Franchini, Marco; Boretti, Felicitas S.; Meli, Marina L.; Sigrist, Brigitte; Lutz, Thomas A.; Reusch, Claudia E.

doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2010.06.003

« Previous Next »Domestic Animal Endocrinology
Volume 39, Issue 4 , Pages 222-230, November 2010

Effect of hyperlipidemia on 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase, glucocorticoid receptor, and leptin expression in insulin-sensitive tissues of cats

Part of the present study was presented as an abstract at the 26^th ACVIM Congress, San Antonio, TX, USA, June 4–7, 2008.

Nadja S. Sieber-Ruckstuhl
- Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. Tel.: + 41 44 635 83 01; fax: + 41 44 635 89 30
Eric Zini
- Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Melanie Osto
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology and Centre of Integrative Human Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Marco Franchini
- Institute of Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Felicitas S. Boretti
- Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Marina L. Meli
- Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Brigitte Sigrist
- Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Thomas A. Lutz
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology and Centre of Integrative Human Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Claudia E. Reusch
- Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

published online 06 August 2010.

Abstract

Glucocorticoid (GC) action depends on GC plasma concentration, cellular GC receptor expression, and the pre-receptor hormone metabolism catalyzed by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase exists in 2 isoforms; 11β-HSD1 converts inactive cortisone to cortisol, and 11β-HSD2 converts cortisol to cortisone. Increasing evidence in humans and experimental animals suggests that altered tissue cortisol metabolism may predispose to diabetes mellitus (DM). Once DM is established, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia may further maintain the abnormal metabolism of cortisol. To gain further insight in this regard, healthy cats were infused for 10 d with lipids (n = 6) or saline (n = 5). At the end of the infusion period, tissue samples from adipose tissue (visceral, subcutaneous), liver, and muscle were collected to determine mRNA expression of 11β-HSD1, 11β-HSD2, and GC receptor by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; blood samples were collected to determine plasma cortisol and leptin concentrations. Lipid infusion resulted in greater 11β-HSD1 expression and lower GC receptor expression in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and lower 11β-HSD2 expression in visceral adipose tissue and liver. Plasma cortisol did not differ. Leptin and body weight increased in lipid-infused cats. In spite of comparable circulating cortisol levels, up-regulation of 11β-HSD1 and down-regulation of 11β-HSD2 expression may result in increased tissue cortisol concentrations in fat depots of hyperlipidemic cats. Down-regulation of GC receptor may represent a self-protective mechanism against increased tissue cortisol levels. In conclusion, hyperlipidemia has a profound effect on 11β-HSD expression and supports the connection between high lipid concentrations and tissue cortisol metabolism.

Keywords: Cortisol metabolism, Lipid infusion, Feline