Growth hormone upregulates ANGPTL4 mRNA and suppresses lipoprotein lipase via fatty acids: Randomized experiments in human individuals

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) catalyzes the hydrolysis of circulating triglycerides into free fatty acids (FFA) and thereby promotes FFA uptake in peripheral tissues. LPL is negatively regulated by angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) presumably by an FFA-dependent mechanism. Growth hormone (GH) suppresses LPL activity, but it is unknown whether this is mediated by FFA and ANGPTL4. Therefore, we investigated the concerted effect of GH on ANGPTL4 and LPL in the presence and absence of lipolysis in two in vivo studies in human subjects. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, nine obese men were examined after injection of 1) a GH bolus, and 2) a GH-receptor antagonist followed by four adipose tissue biopsies obtained over a 5-h period. In a second study, nine hypopituitary men were examined in a 2 × 2 factorial design including GH and acipimox (an anti-lipolytic agent), with biopsies from adipose tissue and skeletal muscle obtained during a basal period and a subsequent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. The mRNA expression of ANGPTL4 and LPL as well as LPL activity were analyzed in the biopsies. In both studies, GH increased serum FFA levels, upregulated ANGPTL4 mRNA expression and suppressed LPL activity. In study 2, acipimox completely suppressed FFA levels and antagonized the effects of GH on ANGPTL4 and LPL. These human in vivo studies demonstrate that GH upregulates ANGPTL4 mRNA and suppresses LPL activity via an FFA-dependent mechanism. •Growth hormone (GH) exposure in human subjects increases serum free fatty acid (FFA) levels.•GH upregulates angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) mRNA and suppresses lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity.•Pharmacological anti-lipolysis antagonizes the effects of GH on ANGPTL4 and LPL.•The suppressive GH effect on LPL activity is mainly FFA-dependent and likely mediated by ANGPTL4.