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Published on: November 16, 2011
Heart CD36 expression is increased in murine models of diabetes and in mice fed a high fat diet
D E Greenwalt1, S H Scheck, T Rhinehart-Jones
1Department of Biochemistry, Holland Laboratory, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland 20855, USA.
Insights
CD36 is highly expressed in endothelial cells of fatty acid-utilizing tissues. Diabetic and high-fat diet conditions increase CD36 in heart tissue, suggesting its role in lipid metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- CD36 is a protein found in triglyceride-storing cells and capillary endothelial cells.
- Endothelial CD36 expression correlates with tissue fatty acid utilization.
- CD36 acts as a long-chain fatty acid-binding protein.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between CD36 expression in endothelial cells and parenchymal cell lipid metabolism.
- To examine CD36 expression in heart tissue of diabetic mouse models and mice on high-fat diets.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of CD36 expression in capillary endothelium of murine adipose tissue, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, and brain.
- Measurement of heart microsomal CD36 levels in diabetic (NOD and KKAY) and control mice.
- Assessment of heart tissue CD36 expression in mice fed varying fat diets (9% vs. 40%).
Main Results:
- High CD36 levels were observed in the capillary endothelium of adipose tissue, cardiac, and skeletal muscles, but not in brain endothelium.
- Diabetic NOD and KKAY mice showed significantly elevated serum triglyceride levels and increased heart microsomal CD36 expression compared to controls.
- Mice on a 40% fat diet exhibited higher heart tissue CD36 expression than those on a 9% fat diet.
Conclusions:
- Endothelial cell CD36 expression is linked to parenchymal cell lipid metabolism.
- Increased CD36 expression in heart tissue is associated with diabetes and high-fat diet conditions.
- CD36 may play a significant role in regulating fatty acid uptake and metabolism in the heart.
Abstract:
High levels of CD36 expression are found in triglyceride storing and secreting cells such as differentiated adipocytes and mammary secretory epithelial cells and in some capillary endothelial cells. We have found high levels of CD36 in the capillary endothelium of murine adipose tissue and in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Muscle cells themselves were CD36 negative. No CD36 was found in brain endothelium. Cardiac and skeletal muscle tissues are highly oxidative and catabolize long-chain fatty acids as a source of energy while brain tissue does not use long-chain fatty acids for energy production. Since capillary endothelial cell CD36 expression appeared to correlate with parenchymal cell fatty acid utilization and since CD26 has been identified recently as a long-chain fatty acid-binding protein, we examined heart tissue CD36 expression in murine models of insulin-dependent (nonobese diabetic, NOD) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (KKAY). Diabetic NOD and KKAY mice had serum triglyceride levels 2.6- and 4.2-fold higher, respectively, than normal mice and exhibited 7- and 3.5-fold higher levels of heart microsomal CD36, respectively, than control mice. Mice fed a 40% fat diet expressed heart tissue CD36 at a level 3.5-fold higher than those fed a 9% fat diet. These data suggest that endothelial cell CD36 expression is related to parenchymal cell lipid metabolism.
