Differential Plin5 response to high-fat diet in cardiomyocytes isolated from young and aged mice

This study investigates the differences in the heart response to an 8-week high-fat diet between young and aged mice. Isolated cardiomyocytes reveal a significant lower level in the lipid droplet-associated protein Plin5 in aged mice. High-fat diet, however, leads to an induction of Plin5 in aged mice and a low-response of lipid metabolism, whereas in cardiomyocytes from young animals the Plin5 level was largely unaffected by high-fat diet whereas several lipid metabolizing enzymes were induced. Therefore, the high-fat diet induced lipid droplet accumulation is more pronounced in cardiomyocytes isolated from aged animals.