Short-term cooling increases serum angiopoietin-like 4 levels in healthy lean men

• Published in: Journal of clinical lipidology Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 56 - 61
• Main Authors: Nahon, Kimberly J., Hoeke, Geerte, Bakker, Leontine E.H., Jazet, Ingrid M., Berbée, Jimmy F.P., Kersten, Sander, Rensen, Patrick C.N., Boon, Mariëtte R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2018
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue, White - metabolism; Adolescent; Adult; Angiopoietin-like 4; Angiopoietin-like 4 Protein - blood; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Body Mass Index; Brown adipose tissue; Cold exposure; Cold Temperature; European Continental Ancestry Group; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - blood; Humans; Male; South Asians; Sympathetic nervous system; Young Adult; Brown adipose tissue; Angiopoietin-like 4; Sympathetic nervous system; South Asians; Cold exposure
• ISSN: 1933-2874; 1876-4789
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2017.10.016

Cold exposure enhances sympathetic outflow to peripheral tissues, thereby stimulating intracellular lipolysis in white adipose tissue and increasing the lipoprotein lipase–dependent uptake and combustion of triglyceride-derived fatty acids (FAs) by brown adipose tissue. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) inhibits lipoprotein lipase and can be regulated by cold exposure, at least in mice. In the present study, we examined the effect of short-term mild cooling on serum ANGPTL4 levels in healthy lean men of White Caucasian and South Asian descent. Healthy, lean White Caucasian (n = 12) and South Asian (n = 12) men were exposed to an individualized cooling protocol for 2 hours. Serum ANGPTL4 levels were measured before and after cooling, and its relation with previously measured parameters (ie, free fatty acid [FFA] levels, body fat percentage, and resting energy expenditure) was determined. Short-term cooling increased ANGPTL4 levels (+17%, P < .001). Thermoneutral ANGPTL4 levels positively correlated with FFA levels (R2 = 0.250, P < .05) and body fat percentage (R2 = 0.338, P < .05). Furthermore, ANGPTL4 negatively correlated with resting energy expenditure (R2 = 0.235, P < .05). The relative increase in ANGPTL4 levels was higher in White Caucasians compared with South Asians (25 ± 4 vs 9 ± 4%, P < .05). Short-term cooling increases ANGPTL4 levels in healthy lean men. We anticipate that FFA liberated from white adipose tissue during cooling increases ANGPTL4 to limit uptake of triglyceride-derived FA by this tissue. •Short-term cooling increases circulating angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) levels in healthy lean men.•ANGPTL4 positively correlates with free fatty acids and body fat percentage.•ANGPTL4 negatively correlates with resting energy expenditure.