Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
06:14
The Isolation of Flowing Mesenteric Lymph in Mice to Quantify In Vivo Kinetics of Dietary Lipid Absorption and Chylomicron Secretion
Published on: November 30, 2022
3.3K
VEGFR-3 Signaling Regulates Triglyceride Retention and Absorption in the Intestine
Trevor Shew1, Nathan E Wolins1, Vincenza Cifarelli1
1Department of Medicine, Center for Human Nutrition, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
Frontiers in Physiology
|January 9, 2019
Summary
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) signaling is crucial for dietary triglyceride absorption. Its inactivation impairs chylomicron entry into lacteals, reducing plasma triglycerides and increasing fecal fat excretion.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Molecular Biology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- The lymphatic system is vital for dietary lipid transport via chylomicrons.
- Chylomicron entry into intestinal lacteals is an active, regulated process.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 are key in lymphangiogenesis and lacteal function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of VEGFR-3 signaling in triglyceride absorption and tissue distribution.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which VEGFR-3 influences chylomicron transport.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Chy mouse model with an inactivating mutation in VEGFR-3.
- Analyzed triglyceride levels in plasma and tissues post-fat absorption.
- Measured free fatty acid and triglyceride excretion in feces.
- Assessed nitric oxide (NO) levels in intestinal tissue.
Main Results:
- Inactivation of VEGFR-3 led to triglyceride retention in enterocytes.
- Postprandial plasma triglyceride levels were decreased in Chy mice.
- Increased excretion of free fatty acids and triglycerides was observed in stools.
- Reduced nitric oxide levels in the intestine after a fat bolus were noted.
Conclusions:
- VEGFR-3 signaling is essential for efficient triglyceride absorption and chylomicron mobilization.
- Impaired VEGFR-3 function disrupts chylomicron entry into lacteals and NO generation.
- VEGFR-3 plays a critical role in the lymphatic transport of dietary lipids.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine
35.7K
Complex carbohydrates consumed cannot be absorbed into the small intestine in their original form. First, they must be hydrolyzed to a monosaccharide form such as glucose or galactose. These monosaccharides are then transported across the intestinal membrane and into the blood via transcellular transport. The intestinal epithelial cells allow the movement of these monosaccharides with a defined 'entry' through membrane transporter proteins present on their apical membrane and...
35.7K
01:12Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
2.5K
Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
2.5K
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
87.4K
Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
87.4K
02:14GTPases and their Regulation
9.8K
Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒ small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins,...
Large G-proteins,...
9.8K
01:40Hormonal Regulation
48.1K
Hormones regulate a significant portion of digestion through activation of the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system of digestion contains many different hormones all with multiple functions that are both, directly and indirectly, involved in digestion.
48.1K
01:19Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption
6.2K
The process of oral drug absorption can be influenced by several factors. Weakly acidic drugs tend to be absorbed more readily from the stomach due to their nonionized state. However, absorption may be less efficient in the upper intestine, where drugs are often ionized. Interestingly, despite the stomach's apparent advantage for drug absorption, its mucous layer can hinder diffusion. Its surface area is also smaller than the intestine's, which can further slow down the absorption rate.
6.2K