TY - JOUR
T1 - Fenretinide treatment accelerates atherosclerosis development in apoE-deficient mice in spite of beneficial metabolic effects
AU - Busnelli, Marco
AU - Manzini, Stefano
AU - Bonacina, Fabrizia
AU - Soldati, Sabina
AU - Barbieri, Silvia Stella
AU - Amadio, Patrizia
AU - Sandrini, Leonardo
AU - Arnaboldi, Francesca
AU - Donetti, Elena
AU - Laaksonen, Reijo
AU - Paltrinieri, Saverio
AU - Scanziani, Eugenio
AU - Chiesa, Giulia
PY - 2020/1/1
Y1 - 2020/1/1
N2 - Background and Purpose: Fenretinide, a synthetic retinoid derivative first investigated for cancer prevention and treatment, has been shown to ameliorate glucose tolerance, improve plasma lipid profile and reduce body fat mass. These effects, together with its ability to inhibit ceramide synthesis, suggest that fenretinide may have an anti-atherosclerotic action. Experimental Approach: To this aim, nine-week-old apoE-knockout (EKO) female mice were fed for twelve weeks a Western diet, without (control) or with (0.1% w/w) fenretinide. As a reference, wild-type (WT) mice were treated similarly. Growth and metabolic parameters were monitored throughout the study. Atherosclerosis development was evaluated in the aorta and at the aortic sinus. Blood and lymphoid organs were further characterized with thorough cytological/histological and immunocytofluorimetric analyses. Key Results: Fenretinide treatment significantly lowered body weight, glucose levels and plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids. In the liver, fenretinide remarkably reduced hepatic glycogenosis and steatosis driven by the Western diet. Treated spleens were abnormally enlarged, with severe follicular atrophy and massive extramedullary haematopoiesis. Severe renal hemosiderin deposition was observed in treated EKO mice. Treatment resulted in a threefold increase of total leukocytes (WT and EKO) and raised the activated/resting monocyte ratio in EKO mice. Finally, atherosclerosis development was markedly increased at the aortic arch, thoracic and abdominal aorta of fenretinide-treated mice. Conclusions and Implications: We provide the first evidence that, despite beneficial metabolic effects, fenretinide treatment may enhance the development of atherosclerosis.
AB - Background and Purpose: Fenretinide, a synthetic retinoid derivative first investigated for cancer prevention and treatment, has been shown to ameliorate glucose tolerance, improve plasma lipid profile and reduce body fat mass. These effects, together with its ability to inhibit ceramide synthesis, suggest that fenretinide may have an anti-atherosclerotic action. Experimental Approach: To this aim, nine-week-old apoE-knockout (EKO) female mice were fed for twelve weeks a Western diet, without (control) or with (0.1% w/w) fenretinide. As a reference, wild-type (WT) mice were treated similarly. Growth and metabolic parameters were monitored throughout the study. Atherosclerosis development was evaluated in the aorta and at the aortic sinus. Blood and lymphoid organs were further characterized with thorough cytological/histological and immunocytofluorimetric analyses. Key Results: Fenretinide treatment significantly lowered body weight, glucose levels and plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids. In the liver, fenretinide remarkably reduced hepatic glycogenosis and steatosis driven by the Western diet. Treated spleens were abnormally enlarged, with severe follicular atrophy and massive extramedullary haematopoiesis. Severe renal hemosiderin deposition was observed in treated EKO mice. Treatment resulted in a threefold increase of total leukocytes (WT and EKO) and raised the activated/resting monocyte ratio in EKO mice. Finally, atherosclerosis development was markedly increased at the aortic arch, thoracic and abdominal aorta of fenretinide-treated mice. Conclusions and Implications: We provide the first evidence that, despite beneficial metabolic effects, fenretinide treatment may enhance the development of atherosclerosis.
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U2 - 10.1111/bph.14869
DO - 10.1111/bph.14869
M3 - Article
C2 - 31621898
AN - SCOPUS:85075477218
VL - 177
SP - 328
EP - 345
JO - British Journal of Pharmacology
JF - British Journal of Pharmacology
SN - 0007-1188
IS - 2
ER -