This thesis describes the role of the brain in the regulation of peripheral triglyceride metabolism, in the context of the metabolic syndrome. Based on various pharmacological studies we described... Show moreThis thesis describes the role of the brain in the regulation of peripheral triglyceride metabolism, in the context of the metabolic syndrome. Based on various pharmacological studies we described the role of two hormones, insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1, in the production and clearance of triglycerides. We showed that insulin stimulates the uptake of (triglyceride-derived) fatty acids and that the brain plays an essential role in this process. Additionally, we showed that the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor analogue exendin-4 decreases triglyceride production by the liver, albeit that the brain does not seem to be involved in this effect. Furthermore, we unraveled the mechanism underlying the effects of metformin, the first-line drug used to treat Type 2 Diabetes, on triglyceride metabolism. We showed that metformin lowers plasma triglyceride levels by stimulating the uptake and subsequent oxidation of triglycerides by the brown adipose tissue, and herewith provided new therapeutical opportunities for this drug. Finally, we showed that apolipoprotein A5, a stimulator of triglyceride hydrolysis and subsequent clearance from the plasma, plays a role in the central regulation of food intake, and herewith described a novel function for this apolipoprotein. Show less
In this thesis, the role of the liver and lungs in atherosclerosis development were studied. The liver plays an important role in lipid metabolism and inflammation, the two main processes involved... Show moreIn this thesis, the role of the liver and lungs in atherosclerosis development were studied. The liver plays an important role in lipid metabolism and inflammation, the two main processes involved in atherogenesis. We show that continuous enhanced inflammation in hepatocytes increased the hepatic production of VLDL and aggravated atherosclerosis development in hyperlipidemic APOE*3-Leiden (E3L) mice as compared to control E3L mice. Poor lung function, most commonly caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a risk factor for atherosclerosis development. To this end, we investigated whether elastase-induced alveolar wall destruction, a model for COPD, would worsen atherosclerosis development in E3L mice. No difference in atherosclerotic lesion size was observed between mice after elastase or vehicle instillation, indicating that alveolar destruction per se is not responsible for the increased risk for atherosclerosis in COPD patients. Furthermore, we studied the anti-atherosclerotic effects of resveratrol which can be found in red wine and Asian medicinal herbs. Hyperlipidemic E3L.CETP mice were fed a diet without (control) or with resveratrol, atorvastatin, or both. Resveratrol protected against atherosclerosis development, but did not add to the anti-atherogenic effects of atorvastatin. Finally, the clinical implications and future perspectives of these results are discussed. Show less
Drug-induced organ toxicity is a major concern for pharmaceutical industry, due to removal of a high number of drugs from the market, as well as for public health, due to numerous hospitalizations... Show moreDrug-induced organ toxicity is a major concern for pharmaceutical industry, due to removal of a high number of drugs from the market, as well as for public health, due to numerous hospitalizations and patient death. The organs that are the primary target for such toxicities are the liver and the kidneys since both organs are continuously exposed to high concentrations of drugs and have high metabolic capacities. The immune system has been shown to be involved in the toxicity of several drugs- inducing liver and kidney injury. In particular, the cytokine tumor necrosis factor _ (TNF-_) has been shown to be the main constituent of the inflammatory processes responsible for the aggravation of drug-induced liver and kidney injuries. In this thesis, the role of TNF-_ in drug-induced organ injury was investigated. The main question was to assess the possible synergy between TNF-_ and druginduced cytotoxicities, and to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms of such a synergy. Show less
