De novo lipogenesis maintains vascular homeostasis through endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) palmitoylation

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jan 28;286(4):2933-45. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.193037. Epub 2010 Nov 23.

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction leads to lethal vascular complications in diabetes and related metabolic disorders. Here, we demonstrate that de novo lipogenesis, an insulin-dependent process driven by the multifunctional enzyme fatty-acid synthase (FAS), maintains endothelial function by targeting endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) to the plasma membrane. In mice with endothelial inactivation of FAS (FASTie mice), eNOS membrane content and activity were decreased. eNOS and FAS were physically associated; eNOS palmitoylation was decreased in FAS-deficient cells, and incorporation of labeled carbon into eNOS-associated palmitate was FAS-dependent. FASTie mice manifested a proinflammatory state reflected as increases in vascular permeability, endothelial inflammatory markers, leukocyte migration, and susceptibility to LPS-induced death that was reversed with an NO donor. FAS-deficient endothelial cells showed deficient migratory capacity, and angiogenesis was decreased in FASTie mice subjected to hindlimb ischemia. Insulin induced FAS in endothelial cells freshly isolated from humans, and eNOS palmitoylation was decreased in mice with insulin-deficient or insulin-resistant diabetes. Thus, disrupting eNOS bioavailability through impaired lipogenesis identifies a novel mechanism coordinating nutritional status and tissue repair that may contribute to diabetic vascular disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Capillary Permeability / drug effects
  • Capillary Permeability / physiology
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Death / physiology
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / genetics
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acid Synthases / genetics
  • Fatty Acid Synthases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Leukocytes / metabolism
  • Lipogenesis / drug effects
  • Lipogenesis / physiology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Lipoylation / drug effects
  • Lipoylation / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Nitric Oxide Donors / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism*

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Nitric Oxide Donors
  • NOS3 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos3 protein, mouse
  • Fatty Acid Synthases