At the age of 19 wks, Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats showed systemic inflammation (plasma TNF-伪 and interleukin (IL)-6 levels increased), insulin resistance (plasma retinol binding protein 4 and soluble CD36 levels were higher), dyslipidemia and fatty liver (plasma and liver triglyceride and cholesterol levels were higher as well as total VLDL-, VLDL1-, VLDL2-apoB100 and VLDL-triglycerides were overproduced), compared with the control rats. In livers of OLETF rats, mRNA levels of tnf, il1b and il6 were increased, but an anti-inflammatory protein, zinc finger protein 36, and its mRNA expression were decreased. We also found that the liver mRNA, protein levels, and tyrosine phosphorylation (pY) of insulin receptor (InsR) substrate (IRS) 2, but not IRS1, were decreased in OLETF rats; pY of InsR and Akt protein and phospho-Akt (ser437) were also reduced; but protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B protein was overexpressed. The gene expressions of glucose transporters 1 and 2, and glycogen synthase were decreased, but phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten and glycogen synthase kinase 3尾 mRNAs were overexpressed, compared with the controls. Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c mRNA, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 mRNA, microsomal triglyceride transfer protein mRNA/protein, and CD36 mRNA/protein levels were increased and lipoprotein lipase and Niemann-Pick c1-like1 mRNA levels were decreased, which are all involved in lipogenesis. Decreased sirtuins1-3 mRNA levels were also observed in OLETF rats.
These abnormal genes, proteins expression and phosphorylation of multiple pathways related to inflammatory, insulin signaling and lipogenesis may be important underlying factors in VLDL-apoB100 particles overproduction observed in T2D. Our data contribute to the further understanding of an association of dyslipoproteinemia with systemic metabolic disorders, fatty liver and dysregulated hepatic metabolic pathways.