Changes in cardiac lipid metabolism during sepsis: The essential role of very low-density lipoprotein receptors

Objective: Sepsis accompanies myocardial dysfunction and dynamic alterations of cardiac metabolism. We have recently demonstrated that the very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDL-R), which is abundantly expressed in the heart, plays a key role in energy metabolism of the fasting heart. However, little is known about the function and regulation of the VLDL-R during sepsis. In the present study, we explored lipid accumulation and VLDL-R expression in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated heart in vivo and regulation of VLDL-R expression in vitro. Methods and results: Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that LPS significantly decreased both lipid accumulation and VLDL-R expression in the hearts of fasting mice. Treatment with LPS also downregulated VLDL-R in rat neonatal cardiac myocytes, and this downregulation was completely reversed by interleukin (IL)-1β receptor antagonist. IL-1β downregulated the expression of VLDL-R in a time- and dose-dependent manner and markedly reduced the uptake of DiI-labeled β-VLDL but not DiI-labeled low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Use of specific pharmacologic inhibitors and short interference RNA revealed that Hsp90 was required for IL-1β to downregulate VLDL-R expression. Conclusions: These findings suggest that IL-1β is a principle mediator of changes in cardiac lipid and energy metabolism during sepsis through the downregulation of myocardial VLDL-R expression.