Abstract
Elevations in plasma triglyceride are the result of overproduction and impaired clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins—very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and chylomicrons. Hypertriglyceridemia is characterized by an accumulation in the circulation of large VLDL-VLDL1–and its lipolytic products, and throughout the VLDL-LDL delipidation cascade perturbations occur that give rise to increased concentrations of remnant lipoproteins and small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The elevated risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in hypertriglyceridemia is believed to result from the exposure of the artery wall to these aberrant lipoprotein species. Key regulators of the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins have been identified and a number of these are targets for pharmacological intervention. However, a clear picture is yet to emerge as to how to relate triglyceride lowering to reduced risk of atherosclerosis.
Introduction
The metabolism of triglyceride and cholesterol is intertwined because of the shared physicochemical properties of these molecules. Both need to be transported through the aqueous medium of blood plasma from sites of production or storage to tissues that require them for cell functions or energy production. Plasma lipoproteins with their hydrophobic interior and amphipathic surface provide the means of solubilizing these lipids and facilitating their passage through the circulation. The fate of the contained lipid is directed by proteins on the particle surface that interact with key lipolytic enzymes and cell membrane receptors. It is recognized that the levels of plasma triglyceride and cholesterol in most populations are far in excess of the concentrations needed to support physiological processes and this leads to pathological consequences such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and pancreatitis (–). The case for cholesterol-carrying low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as a causal factor for ASCVD is well made (, ) but until recently there has been significant doubt as to the role of raised plasma triglyceride, carried in chylomicrons and very-low density lipoproteins (VLDL) (collectively termed triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, TRL), as a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Epidemiological studies in the general population consistently demonstrate a strong, positive association of plasma triglyceride levels with risk of ASCVD (, , , ) but this has been considered confounded, mainly by the link between higher levels of TRL and decreased concentrations of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), a lipoprotein class with putative cardio-protective properties (, ). A resurgence of interest in triglyceride as a causative agent for ASCVD and as a possible target for intervention followed reports that common allelic variations in genes regulating specifically triglyceride metabolism are associated with differences in cardiovascular disease outcomes (–), thus addressing the confounding issue, and that lowering plasma triglyceride is associated with reduced risk of a major cardiovascular event () (but may not be the whole explanation for the benefit seen in that trial).
Chylomicrons and VLDL have as their major structural apolipoprotein (apo) B48 and apoB100, respectively. Both TRL are subject to extensive remodeling during intravascular lipolysis that leads in the case of chylomicrons to the generation of “remnants” and for VLDL to a range of products including remnants within the VLDL density interval, intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) and LDL. Given that triglyceride itself is not found deposited in atherosclerotic plaque, the influence of raised levels of this lipid on ASCVD is likely to be indirect, that is through the impact of hypertriglyceridemia on the metabolism of cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins (, –), and possibly also by activation of inflammatory mechanisms (, , , ). Interventions that lower triglyceride may be understood best, in terms of their impact on ASCVD risk, in light of the consequent changes in the entire apoB-containing lipoprotein spectrum. In this context, it is important to note the findings of a recent study in which genetic variants that lower plasma triglyceride were associated with reduced ASCVD risk only when there was a commensurate decrease in apo B (). Reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which are a further consequence of raised triglyceride levels may contribute to the enhanced risk () but it is unclear whether a change in HDL attendant on triglyceride lowering will result in decreased CVD risk. Mendelian randomization studies do not support a causative link and outcome trials targeting HDL have failed to show a risk reduction (, , ).
This review explores the complex interrelationship between the metabolism of chylomicrons and VLDL, the underlying causes of hypertriglyceridemia, and the perturbations in this condition in the structure and metabolism of apoB-containing lipoprotein species. The aim is to provide a framework that not only helps in understanding the clinical sequelae of moderate to severe hypertriglyceridemia but also acts as an aid in interpreting the results of published () and upcoming (, ) triglyceride-lowering outcome trials. For LDL cholesterol (LDLc) lowering studies, systematic meta-analyses () reveal a straightforward relationship between the absolute reduction in LDLc and the percent decrease in ASCVD risk—a 22% relative risk reduction for each 1.0 mmol/l drop in LDLc. With the complexity inherent in TRL metabolism, it is predictable that the relationship between change in triglyceride levels and outcome will not be so simple.
The Nature of Hypertriglyceridemia
It is recognized from studies of aboriginal, hunter-gatherer societies (–) and age-related lipid changes in Western populations (, , ) that the optimal plasma triglyceride concentration appears to be in the range below 1.2 mmol/l/l (<100 mg/dl) (, ). In developed countries the average plasma triglyceride level doubles from early adulthood (mean triglyceride 0.8 mmol/l at about 20 years) to mid-adult life (mean of 1.5 mmol/l at about 50 years old) (, ). This rise is driven, at least in part, by the age-related increase in body weight and adiposity since there is a strong link between being overweight or obese and higher rates of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and VLDL secretion (, ). Conversely, weight reduction leads to triglyceride lowering and a decrease in the production of VLDL (, , , ). Pregnancy is another physiological condition linked to the development of hypertriglyceridemia; VLDL levels rise several-fold over the course of gestation (, ), likely as a result of an action of estrogen on VLDL assembly and secretion () in order to deliver triglyceride to the placenta. In some women, possibly due to genetic predisposition or a metabolic disorder, frank hypertriglyceridemia can develop especially during the third trimester (, ).
Accumulation of Large VLDL and Remnants in Hypertriglyceridemia
Increased levels of plasma triglyceride are associated with the accumulation of large, triglyceride-rich VLDL-VLDL1–particles with a diameter range of 50–80 nm containing about 70% triglyceride by mass. Smaller VLDL-VLDL2–which are 30–50 nm in diameter and consist of about 30% triglyceride show a moderate elevation (Figure 1A) (, , , ). The liver has the capacity to vary the amount of lipid loaded onto the growing lipoprotein particle in the endoplasmic reticulum, and indeed depending on triglyceride availability can assemble and secrete particles that range in size from VLDL1 to LDL (, , –). A number of factors determine the assembly and secretion rate of apoB100 lipoproteins including hormone levels, intracellular lipid trafficking, protein regulatory factors (, ), and possibly proprotein convertase/subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) (). VLDL1 synthesis is driven by the supply of triglyceride from intracellular stores, de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid uptake, and hepatic chylomicron remnant removal (, ). Overproduction of smaller VLDL2, on the other hand, is linked to raised cholesterol levels () and is a feature of familial hypercholesterolemia (40, 41). Kinetic investigations have demonstrated that the metabolic fate of circulating VLDL particles is a function of their size and lipid and apoprotein composition (, , , 42), especially their apoE and apoCIII content (42). So, an understanding of the causes and consequences of hypertriglyceridemia needs to encompass the factors that govern lipoprotein assembly in the liver and the enzymes and receptors that regulate flow down the VLDL-LDL delipidation cascade (Figure 1, main diagram).
Figure 1
As plasma triglyceride rises in the population, metabolic abnormalities appear throughout the VLDL1-VLDL2-IDL-LDL delipidation cascade (Figure 1). At triglyceride levels <1.2 mmol/l there are approximately equal amounts of VLDL1 and VLDL2 in the circulation (inset A) and kinetic studies show that there is both a low secretion rate and rapid clearance of VLDL1 (
Impact of Hypertriglyceridemia on VLDL-LDL Metabolic Pathways
Heterogeneity in apoB metabolism in hypertriglyceridemia is not confined to the VLDL density range. In a series of experiments using radiolabelled lipoproteins as tracers, we found that when VLDL1 and VLDL2 were isolated, labeled with alternate iodine isotopes (131I, 125I), and injected into the donors the metabolism of these two subfractions differed. There appeared to be “metabolic channeling” within the VLDL-LDL delipidation pathway (
Figure 2

Apolipoprotein B100 metabolic cascade in hypertriglyceridemia. Plasma triglyceride levels influence the metabolism of LDL as an extension of the metabolic heterogeneity seen in Figure 1. LDL is derived from the delipidation of VLDL1 but the extent of conversion is less than for VLDL2. The LDL (followed by virtue of the radioactive label attached to VLDL1 apoB) from VLDL1 has a slow catabolic rate (A). LDL derived from VLDL2 delipidation exhibits a two-phase clearance curve. The first part represents LDL with a rapid clearance rate (presumably derived from directly secreted VLDL2) while the second phase exhibits the same clearance rate as LDL derived from VLDL1. LDL kinetic studies show a positive relationship between the amount of slowly catabolised LDL produced and the plasma triglyceride concentration across the “normal range” (B). Plasma triglyceride across the full range of normal through to severe hypertriglyceridemia exhibits a complex relationship to LDL cholesterol concentration and to LDL fractional catabolic rate (FCR) as shown in (C). Between triglyceride levels of 0.5 to about 3.0 mmol/l FCR falls and LDL concentration rises due to increased production of VLDL1 which is converted to slowly metabolized LDL. In severe hypertriglyceridemia) (>5.0 mmol/l), LDL FCR is increased and the concentration decreases due to rapid clearance by stimulated receptor-independent routes (D). (E) Shows the change in LDL size profile as plasma triglyceride increases. For further detail see Ference et al. (
The presence of metabolic heterogeneity in the LDL density range linked to plasma triglyceride levels was examined further using radiolabelled LDL tracers (
LDL Structural Abnormalities in Hypertriglyceridemia
LDL subfraction distribution is also affected markedly by plasma triglyceride levels (Figure 2E). It has been shown by a number of investigators that the concentration of small, dense LDL (LDL-III) increases significantly when triglyceride rises above about 1.5 mmol/l and there is a reciprocal drop in LDL-II, the most abundant subfraction in normal subjects (
From the above it is clear that elevation in plasma triglyceride is accompanied by metabolic and structural perturbations throughout the apoB100-containing lipoprotein spectrum. Since disadvantageous changes start to be evident as low as 1.5 mmol/l, this has been used as a cut-off for “borderline” hypertriglyceridemia while “moderate” and “severe” forms of the condition are defined by plasma triglyceride concentrations in the range 2.3–5.0 and >5.0 mmol/l, respectively (
Genetic, Hormonal and Dietary Regulation of Plasma Triglyceride
Some of the most illuminating investigations into the factors that control VLDL and LDL metabolism have come from the study of inherited conditions where a specific enzyme, receptor or cofactor is absent or deficient.
Role of Lipases in Metabolism of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins
Familial chylomicronemia syndrome, characterized by the accumulation of extremely high levels of chylomicrons and in many cases VLDL is the result of inherited deficiencies in key factors in the pathways of TRL assembly and clearance (55). One of the best characterized of these disorders is absence of functional lipoprotein lipase (LpL) activity (
Figure 3

Regulation of apolipoprotein B metabolism by key enzymes, receptors and cofactors. The main diagram depicts the known roles of lipoprotein and hepatic lipase (LpL, HL); cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP); apolipoproteins CII, CIII, and E; LDL receptor (LDL-r). The potential role of the VLDL receptor (VLDL-r), apoE receptor 2 (apoE-r2), and LDL receptor related protein 1 (LRP1) in VLDL1 removal is speculative. (A) Shows the relative quantitative importance of liver and body fat in regulating VLDL1 production and of apoCIII in controlling VLDL1 clearance [adapted from (43)]. The numerical values quoted are correlation coefficients.
Lipoprotein Receptors in VLDL Metabolism
The role of the LDL receptor in apoB metabolism was thought initially to be limited to facilitation of LDL clearance. However, kinetic investigations in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) indicate that VLDL and IDL metabolism are affected also (40, 41, 47). While the production and clearance of the largest VLDL particles—VLDL1 (Figure 3)—are not altered in homozygous FH, there is overproduction of VLDL2 [and total VLDL where this was studied (41)], and delayed clearance of this lipoprotein class, a reduced IDL FCR, and a very slow conversion of IDL to LDL (taking an average of 100 h in affected individuals compared to about 20 h in normal subjects) (40, 47). Understanding the full contribution of the LDL receptor to apoB metabolism is important when elucidating the mechanism of action of drugs that stimulate its activity such as statins and PCSK9 inhibitors (see below). This was explored further in experiments in which unmodified VLDL subfractions and their chemically altered counterparts (with blocked arginine resides) which could not bind to receptors were labeled with the two forms of radioiodine and administered to normal volunteers (61). It was observed that modification did not impact on the kinetics of large VLDL (VLDL1) but delayed the processing and clearance of a smaller VLDL (VLDL2)/IDL fraction as well as the catabolism of LDL. These findings suggest again that the LDL receptor is not involved in VLDL1 metabolism, at least in normal subjects, but plays a part in the catabolism of VLDL2 and IDL particles as well as LDL (Figure 3). Since the modified VLDL2/IDL fraction exhibited a slower conversion rate to LDL, this was taken as further evidence that the LDL receptor contributed to this process. The agreement between these studies and the observations of the metabolic disturbance in FH where there is an inherited deficiency of LDL receptors is striking (Figure 3). Direct removal of VLDL1 may be facilitated by other members of the LDL receptor superfamily which include LDL receptor related protein 1 (LRP1), the VLDL receptor, and the apoE-receptor 2 (62, 63). LRP1 is a prime candidate since it binds apoE and has been implicated in the hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants which share many of the structural features of partially lipolyzed VLDL1 particles (63) (Figure 3).
Role of Apolipoproteins CIII and E in Metabolism of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins
Apolipoproteins CII, CIII, and E are small proteins carried on the surface of lipoproteins that influence their metabolic properties. These apoproteins are not distributed uniformly and are found in different sub-types of particles within each density range (42). The metabolism of apoB100-containing lipoproteins with and without apoCIII and apoE has been investigated in detail and related to risk of ASCVD (42, 64). Other studies have delineated the metabolic consequences of inheriting the various apoE isoforms—apoE2, E3, and E4 (65, 66)—or a deficiency in apoCIII (67–69). In our study of subjects homozygous for the three apoE protein variants (65) it was found that those who were E2/2 had a reduced rate of VLDL1 and VLDL2 direct catabolism indicating delayed remnant removal, and a marked reduction in the rate of conversion of IDL to LDL (Figure 3). ApoE isoform type was a major influence on the extent of conversion of VLDL2 to LDL; this was 25% in E2/2, 50% in E3/3, and 70% in E4/4 subjects (65). Even a single copy of the apoE4 is sufficient to influence apoB kinetics leading to an increased VLDL to LDL conversion and a reduced LDL FCR (66). These observations help explain why apoE is the most important inherited trait influencing plasma cholesterol levels, and why in E2/2 individuals with hypertriglyceridemia, remnant lipoproteins accumulate throughout the VLDL-IDL density range (
It has long been suspected that apoCIII is a major regulator of plasma lipid concentrations. Its role in triglyceride transport and as a potential intervention target has been reviewed recently (67). Overproduction of apoCIII is associated with raised triglyceride levels (70), and this apoprotein is a major determinant of VLDL apoB100 and VLDL triglyceride clearance rates (Figure 3) (67–72). There appear to be a number of ways in which apoCIII can influence triglyceride metabolism. It has reported to enhance VLDL assembly and secretion in the liver, inhibit the action of lipoprotein lipase and hence slow VLDL lipolysis, and possibly also retard the direct clearance of VLDL remnants by receptors (67–72). VLDL particles separated into various sub-types on the basis of apoprotein content have been shown to be removed significantly less efficiently from the circulation if they carry apoCIII (42). Interest in apoCIII as a potential intervention target was reinforced by the finding that inherited loss-of-function mutations in this protein were associated with low plasma triglyceride and a reduced risk of CVD (
Impact of Obesity and Hormones on Triglyceride Metabolism
Secretion of apoB-containing particles from the liver is governed by the body's requirements for triglyceride and cholesterol in peripheral tissues and the need to regulate the amount of lipid stored in hepatocytes since pathological consequences can ensue (such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatosteatosis) when intracellular fat accumulates (77). Increased VLDL synthesis is present in non-obese and obese subjects who have high levels of liver fat (
Plasma triglyceride concentration across the normal range and in the hypertriglyceridemic population is (as set out above) primarily a function of the level of VLDL1 which in turn is governed by the relative rates of production and clearance (lipolysis and direct catabolism) of this particle. In a recent multicenter investigation in which it was possible to include a large number of subjects with abdominal obesity, the quantitative contributions of key regulatory factors were assessed in a statistical model of the determinants of plasma triglyceride (43). VLDL1 -apoB and -triglyceride kinetic parameters explained about 70% of the variation in plasma triglyceride and, as depicted in Figure 3A, significant correlations were found between liver fat/ body fat mass and the VLDL1 synthesis rate, while the VLDL1 fractional clearance rate was inversely related to plasma apoCIII concentration. Lipoprotein and hepatic lipase activities, and apoCII and apoA5 levels were included in the model but none of these exhibited a significant association with VLDL1 metabolic parameters. As in earlier analyses, overall it is the clearance rate that is the dominant feature in regulating VLDL accounting for about 70% of the variation while production rates explain around 25% (
Hormones associated with glucose and lipid homeostasis are also important regulatory factors. The presence of insulin resistance is positively associated with VLDL1 synthesis rates in both normoglycemic and type 2 diabetic subjects (
Impact of Dietary Constituents on Triglyceride Metabolism
Both quantity and composition of the diet impact on plasma triglyceride concentrations and can lead to borderline or moderate hypertriglyceridemia. Excessive intake of calories leads to storage of triglyceride in adipose and other tissues. Of particular concern for the regulation of VLDL metabolism is the accumulation of visceral and liver fat. VLDL synthesis, as noted above, is driven by the supply of triglyceride to the lipoprotein assembly pathway in hepatocytes (
Integrated View of the Role of Liver and Intestine in Triglyceride Transport
For pragmatic as well as theoretical reasons, a great deal of the research into triglyceride metabolism has been conducted in the fasted state; “pragmatic” because the VLDL-LDL pathway arising in the liver is in steady state and can be investigated using classical kinetic techniques, “theoretical” because the vast majority of epidemiological surveys linking plasma triglyceride levels to risk of cardiovascular disease have drawn blood from subjects fasted overnight i.e., it was VLDL triglyceride that was measured. However, many researchers over the last three decades have pointed out that we spend most of our lives in the post-prandial state and the contribution of intestine-derived lipoproteins—chylomicrons and their remnants—to atherosclerosis must not be ignored (
Investigating Chylomicron ApoB48 and VLDL ApoB100 Kinetics
Investigating chylomicron metabolism is a challenge due to its dynamic nature—these triglyceride-rich lipoproteins appear as a wave following fat meals—and the need to distinguish it from very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) mediated triglyceride transport. A variety of approaches have been used with varying degrees of success. Retinyl palmitate has been employed in the past as a marker of intestinally derived particles (92) but most kinetic studies now use tracer techniques to assess apoB48 kinetics (since this form of apoB is found solely in particles of intestinal origin: apoB100 in VLDL is exclusively liver-derived) (92–98). However, the low abundance of apoB48 and its transient behavior have presented challenges in the conduct and interpretation of kinetic studies. Some investigators have addressed these issues by employing quasi-steady-state designs with participants fed micro-meals across the day (93, 94, 97) others by the use of simplified kinetic analysis (95) but neither of these approaches replicates the physiological situation of the overlay of a complex, non-steady state process—post-prandial lipid absorption—on the relatively constant VLDL pathway. Using the continuous feeding protocol, it was found that the production rate of apoB48 in normal subjects was about 70 mg/d which is relatively minor compared to the 500–1,200 mg/d for apoB100 in VLDL1 (93, 94, 97). To put this in the context of triglyceride mass transport, it can be estimated that the intestine presented with these small meals processes and releases ~90 g of triglyceride per day in the form of chylomicrons (given an average dietary intake of fat) whereas the liver secretes in the region of 25 g/d of VLDL1-triglyceride (
Integrated Regulation of Chylomicron and VLDL Metabolism
Adopting a more physiological feeding pattern in which a fat-rich meal is consumed and the resultant peak of alimentary lipaemia quantified either by measuring retinyl palmitate as tracer or quantifying apoB48 plasma levels, it was observed that triglyceride levels rose over 2–6 h in normal subjects and then returned to near fasting concentration by about 10 h (92, 96). In subjects with hypertriglyceridemia, the peak of chylomicronemia is higher and it takes much longer for the wave of particles to be cleared from the circulation and apoB48 to return to baseline (
With the advent of more sensitive mass spectrometry techniques it has become possible to explore apoB48 kinetic behavior in much greater detail than before. By following the metabolism of trace-labeled apoB48 and apoB100 in chylomicrons and VLDL following a fat-rich meal, we have been able recently to build an integrated picture of the metabolism of liver and intestinally-derived triglyceride-rich lipoproteins during fat absorption, as depicted in Figure 4. Key findings were that in subjects with borderline to moderate hypertriglyceridemia, apoB48 metabolism was significantly perturbed. There was a low level of basal apoB48 direct secretion (prior to the fat meal) into the VLDL1 and VLDL2 density ranges and this increased several-fold post-prandially (Figure 4). This indicates that, indeed, the intestine assembles and secretes VLDL throughout the day—fasted or fed—and this pathway contributes significantly to circulating TRL found in the VLDL1 and VLDL2 density ranges. It was estimated that in subjects with raised triglyceride (>2 mmol/l) apoB48 secretion into VLDL was ~600 nmol/d compared to 2,200 nmol/l for apoB100, and across the day apoB48-containing lipoproteins accounted for about 25% of VLDL particles (
Figure 4

Impact of alimentary lipemia on apolipoprotein B metabolism hypertriglyceridemia. The intestine can secrete chylomicrons, and particles in the VLDL density range during lipid absorption. The appearance of chylomicrons in the circulation impairs VLDL1 lipolysis as shown in (A). In an integrated multi-compartmental model, following a fat meal, VLDL1 apoB100 concentration increased and this was attributed to a drop in VLDL1 to VLDL2 transfer (i.e., reduced lipolysis rate) (
Mechanistic Insights From Pharmacological Interventions
Further insight into the factors that regulate triglyceride transport comes from clinical trials in which lipid-lowering drugs have been shown to alter the metabolism of apoB100 and B48 in subjects with elevated plasma triglyceride levels (Figure 5).
Figure 5

Mechanistic insights from pharmacological interventions. The diagram shows the known and putative actions of fibrates/selective peroxisome proliferator receptor α modulators (SPPARαM); fish oils (Omega-3 FA); statins; PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i).
Insights From the Mechanism of Action of Fibrates and Fish Oil
Fibrates reduce plasma triglyceride levels—both in VLDL and chylomicrons—principally by increasing the FCR of VLDL (50, 99–105), especially that of the VLDL1 subfraction (102, 105) and reducing the extent of alimentary lipemia (100). This is likely due to the action of the drug on the PPARα response element within the apoCIII gene promoter region that results in decreased expression of the protein (
In individuals with initially low plasma triglyceride, fenofibrate therapy caused LDL cholesterol and apoB concentrations to fall by 10–20% (49, 50, 105) due to an increased clearance rate. Further exploration of the changes in LDL metabolism led to the finding that on fenofibrate the production rate of slowly metabolized LDL (Figure 2) was reduced and that of rapidly metabolized LDL enhanced (49, 105). Thus, the observation that in subjects with borderline hypertriglyceridemia and raised LDL cholesterol, fenofibrate therapy increased overall LDL clearance was understood better in terms of this shift in the pedigree of LDL particles, possibly attributable to the drug-induced alterations in the metabolism of VLDL1, the source of slowly cleared LDL (Figure 2). In severe hypertriglyceridemia, fibrates correct partially the hypercatabolism of LDL (Figures 2C,D) and LDL concentration increases by 20–30% (49–51). The decrease in clearance rate has been attributed to less active receptor-independent catabolic pathways (51, 105). Structural changes in LDL accompany these metabolic perturbations with fibrate therapy being associated with an increase in larger sized LDL subfractions (99–101, 104–106).
Omega-3 fatty acids [eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexanoic (DHA) acids and their derivatives] given in high doses (>2 g/d) lower VLDL in proportion to the dose given and the basal plasma triglyceride level; reductions vary from 20% in moderate hypertriglyceridemia to about 35% in those with more severely elevated levels (
LDL levels have been reported to be variably affected by fish oil supplementation. LDL cholesterol exhibits usually no change or a modest increase in individuals with moderate hypertriglyceridemia but in severe hypertriglyceridemia, a substantial rise in LDL cholesterol in the order of 30% can occur (similar to the response to fibrates) (108). Investigators have found repeatedly that the extent of VLDL to LDL conversion is increased on fish oil (85, 108, 111, 113). The reason for this is unknown but is possibly not due to a change in overall lipolytic capacity since there is no change in VLDL fractional catabolic rate. Fish oils have been reported to have variable effects on lipase activity, and at least in hypertriglyceridemic subjects there appears to be no increase in lipoprotein lipase measured as heparin-releasable enzyme (112). A reduction in plasma levels of apoCIII has been seen in severe hypertriglyceridemic subjects given omega-3 fatty acids (112) and this may influence the lipolytic potential of both VLDL1 and chylomicrons (Figures 3, 4) but again, in contrast to the fibrate mechanism of action, an increase in VLDL FCR would have been expected if this was a rate-limiting factor. Another explanation along the lines of the concept depicted in Figure 2, is that fish oils by decreasing triglyceride availability for VLDL assembly favor the release of smaller VLDL which is more efficiently converted to the lipolytic products IDL and LDL. There have been few experiments looking at the metabolism of VLDL subfractions on fish oil. However, observations supporting this hypothesis come from a small study in patients with diabetes that found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (1.8 g/d EPA) led to a specific decrease in VLDL1 triglyceride concentration due to decreased synthesis. There was no change in VLDL2 triglyceride level or the kinetics of this particle while the direct production of IDL was increased (113).
Insights From the Mechanism of Action of Statins and PCSK9 Inhibitors
It has been recognized for some time that statins have the capacity to reduce plasma triglyceride concentrations to a modest degree in individuals with normal triglyceride levels and more substantially in those with elevated concentrations. A “rule-of-thumb” has emerged that in hypertriglyceridemic subjects, the percentage reduction in plasma triglyceride equals that of LDL cholesterol (114). Metabolic studies investigating the mechanism by which statins lowered VLDL in hypertriglyceridemic subjects revealed that the drug stimulated the fractional clearance rates of all apoB-containing lipoproteins from VLDL1 through to LDL (115–118). These observations are consistent with the concept that receptors, especially the LDL receptor, play a critical role in catabolism of lipoproteins across the VLDL-LDL metabolic cascade as depicted in Figure 3. VLDL1 direct catabolism does not seem to involve the LDL receptor pathway (Figure 3) and yet it was accelerated in subjects on statin therapy. A possible explanation is that another lipoprotein receptor, regulated by cellular cholesterol in a manner similar to the LDL receptor is stimulated by statins in hypertriglyceridemic subjects (Figure 5). One possibility is LRP1 which is reported to be upregulated by statins (119).
Evidence from clinical trials indicates that reduction in plasma triglyceride and VLDL on PCSK9 inhibitors occurs but is less marked than that seen when a statin is given, even when the drugs are used as monotherapy (118, 120, 121). Kinetic studies conducted to date show small changes if any in VLDL apoB metabolism when PCSK9 inhibitors are added to background statin therapy or used alone (118, 120); the most notable perturbation is a modest increase in VLDL apoB FCR. Exploration of the action of PCSK9 inhibitors on chylomicron metabolism shows a lack of effect on the post prandial rise in triglyceride following a fat meal challenge, and on the increment in apoB48 levels (118, 121). However, these investigations were conducted in subjects with low or normal plasma triglyceride and it might be expected that the response would be more marked in subjects with raised plasma triglyceride (as for statins). In a recent study in patients with diabetes, it was observed that plasma triglyceride was reduced about 15% (122), and we saw a similar, small but significant drop in diabetic patients with borderline raised triglyceride treated with evolocumab that was accompanied by a decrease in apoCIII, a reduced post-prandial rise in triglyceride, a 29% decrease in remnant cholesterol, and a 17% lower increment in apoB48 following a standard fat meal (123). We found further that evolocumab appeared to have a significant impact on the fasting triglyceride concentration in VLDL2 (23% decrease, P < 0.001) but not in VLDL1. A tentative interpretation of this unusual finding—normally when triglyceride is lowered the effect on VLDL1 is greater than that on VLDL2–is that PCSK9 inhibitors do not impact on the activity of LRP1 (Figure 5) since this receptor lacks the binding motif for PCSK9 and so is not regulated by this protein (62), but VLDL2 removal by the LDL receptor is stimulated.
Conclusions
The potential benefits for cardiovascular disease prevention of triglyceride lowering were equivocal in trials of both fibrates and omega-3 fatty acids, at least prior to REDUCE-IT (
Statements
Author contributions
All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.
Funding
The personal work cited by the authors were supported by grants from Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Helsinki University Hospital Research funds, Finnish Heart Foundation, Swedish Research Council, Swedish Heart Lung Foundation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital ALF grant.
Conflict of interest
CP claims grants and honoraria from MSD, Daiichi-Sankyo, Amgen. M-RT claims grants and honoraria from Amgen, Chiesi Pharma, Sanofi-Aventis, NovoNordisk, Mylan. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Summary
Keywords
lipid, metabolism, VLDL, chylomicron, apoB
Citation
Packard CJ, Boren J and Taskinen M-R (2020) Causes and Consequences of Hypertriglyceridemia. Front. Endocrinol. 11:252. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00252
Received
06 February 2020
Accepted
06 April 2020
Published
14 May 2020
Volume
11 - 2020
Edited by
Zachary Bloomgarden, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States
Reviewed by
Gary Lewis, University of Toronto, Canada; Changting Xiao, Toronto General Research Institute (TGRI), Canada
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Copyright
© 2020 Packard, Boren and Taskinen.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Chris J. Packard chris.j.packard@gmail.com
This article was submitted to Clinical Diabetes, a section of the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology
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