Loss of hepatic PPARα promotes inflammation and serum hyperlipidemia in diet-induced obesity

Agonists for PPARα are used clinically to reduce triglycerides and improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in patients with hyperlipidemia. Whether the mechanism of PPARα activation to lower serum lipids occurs in the liver or other tissues is unknown. To determine the function of hepatic PPARα on lipid profiles in diet-induced obese mice, we placed hepatocyte-specific peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) knockout (Ppara^HepKO) and wild-type (Ppara^fl/fl) mice on high-fat diet (HFD) or normal fat diet (NFD) for 12 wk. There was no significant difference in weight gain, percent body fat mass, or percent body lean mass between the groups of mice in response to HFD or NFD. Interestingly, the Ppara^HepKO mice on HFD had worsened hepatic inflammation and a significant shift in the proinflammatory M1 macrophage population. These changes were associated with higher hepatic fat mass and decreased hepatic lean mass in the Pparα^HepKO on HFD but not in NFD as measured by Oil Red O and noninvasive EchoMRI analysis (31.1 ± 2.8 vs. 20.2 ± 1.5, 66.6 ± 2.5 vs. 76.4 ± 1.5%, P < 0.05). We did find that this was related to significantly reduced peroxisomal gene function and lower plasma β-hydroxybutyrate in the Ppara^HepKO on HFD, indicative of reduced metabolism of fats in the liver. Together, these provoked higher plasma triglyceride and apolipoprotein B100 levels in the Ppara^HepKO mice compared with Ppara^fl/fl on HFD. These data indicate that hepatic PPARα functions to control inflammation and liver triglyceride accumulation that prevent hyperlipidemia.