Leptin replacement therapy but not dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid alleviates HIV protease inhibitor-induced dyslipidemia and lipodystrophy in mice

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2003 Aug 15;33(5):564-70. doi: 10.1097/00126334-200308150-00003.

Abstract

A major complication associated with the use of protease inhibitors (PIs) in treatment of HIV-infected patients is lipid abnormalities including dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, and liver steatosis. Previous studies revealed that these abnormalities are associated with PI-induced accumulation of activated sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) in the nucleus of liver and adipose tissues, resulting in constitutive activation of lipid metabolism genes. This study used the mouse model to determine the potential of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) diet or leptin replacement therapy to alleviate these PI-induced metabolic abnormalities. Results showed that feeding C57BL/6 mice with a PUFA-rich diet failed to normalize plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in ritonavir-treated mice. The PUFA-rich diet also had no effect on ritonavir-induced interscapular fat accumulation and liver steatosis. In contrast, daily administration of leptin significantly reversed the elevated plasma cholesterol level induced by ritonavir. Leptin replacement therapy also significantly reduced the ritonavir-induced interscapular fat mass and improved liver steatosis. Taken together, these data suggest that PI-induced lipid abnormalities, especially dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, and liver steatosis, may be reduced with leptin replacement therapy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue / pathology
  • Animals
  • Azo Compounds
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Coloring Agents
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fat Necrosis
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / administration & dosage*
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors* / adverse effects
  • Hyperlipidemias / chemically induced
  • Hyperlipidemias / diet therapy*
  • Hyperlipidemias / drug therapy*
  • Leptin / administration & dosage
  • Leptin / therapeutic use*
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Lipodystrophy / chemically induced
  • Lipodystrophy / diet therapy*
  • Lipodystrophy / drug therapy*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Organ Size
  • Ritonavir / adverse effects
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1
  • Transcription Factors*
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Azo Compounds
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
  • Coloring Agents
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Leptin
  • Lipids
  • Srebf1 protein, mouse
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1
  • Transcription Factors
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • oil red O
  • Ritonavir