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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

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
DENND5B Regulates Intestinal Triglyceride Absorption and Body Mass
Scott M Gordon1,2, Edward B Neufeld3, Zhihong Yang3
1Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA. scott.gordon@uky.edu.
The DENND5B gene is crucial for secreting fat particles (chylomicrons) from cells. Its deficiency in mice prevents obesity and reduces artery disease, suggesting a link to human body weight regulation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Metabolic research
- Genetics
Background:
- Enterocyte lipid absorption impacts human metabolic health, contributing to obesity.
- Chylomicron biogenesis and ER-to-Golgi transport are known, but post-Golgi mechanisms remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Dennd5b in post-Golgi chylomicron transport and secretion.
- To determine the impact of Dennd5b deficiency on metabolic status and related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Generation and analysis of a Dennd5b knockout mouse model (Dennd5b-/-).
- Assessment of chylomicron secretion, lipid metabolism, and atherosclerosis in response to a western diet.
- Exome sequencing in human populations to correlate DENND5B variants with body mass index.
Main Results:
- Dennd5b is essential for Golgi to plasma membrane transport of chylomicron secretory vesicles.
- Dennd5b-/- mice exhibit resistance to diet-induced obesity, altered plasma lipids, and reduced aortic atherosclerosis.
- A common DENND5B variant (p.(R52K)) is associated with body mass index in humans.
Conclusions:
- DENND5B plays a critical role in post-Golgi chylomicron secretion.
- DENND5B influences body composition and peripheral lipoprotein metabolism.
- Targeting DENND5B may offer therapeutic strategies for obesity and metabolic disorders.
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