Abstract
To test the hypothesis that intestine is a major site of action for D-4F, LDLR(-/-) mice were fed a Western diet (WD) and administered the peptide subcutaneously (SQ) or orally. Plasma and liver D-4F levels were 298-fold and 96-fold higher, respectively, after SQ administration, whereas peptide levels in small intestine only varied by 1.66 ± 0.33-fold. Levels of metabolites of arachidonic and linoleic acids known to bind with high affinity to D-4F were significantly reduced in intestine, liver and hepatic bile to a similar degree whether administered SQ or orally. However, levels of 20-HETE, which is known to bind the peptide with low affinity, were unchanged. D-4F treatment reduced plasma serum amyloid A (SAA) and triglyceride levels (P < 0.03) and increased HDL-cholesterol levels (P < 0.04) similarly after SQ or oral administration. Plasma levels of metabolites of arachidonic and linoleic acids significantly correlated with SAA levels (P < 0.0001). Feeding 15-HETE in chow (without WD) significantly increased plasma SAA and triglyceride levels and decreased HDL-cholesterol and paraoxonase activity (P < 0.05), all of which were significantly ameliorated by SQ D-4F (P < 0.05). We conclude that D-4F administration reduces levels of free metabolites of arachidonic and linoleic acids in the small intestine and this is associated with decreased inflammation in LDL receptor deficient mice.