title: Prednisone increases low density lipoprotein in cynomolgus monkeys fed saturated fat and cholesterol.
abstract: Cynomolgus monkeys were given prednisone to determine its effects on lipoprotein metabolism and other risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. After 1 month of oral prednisone, the mean total plasma cholesterol (TPC) concentration increased from 240 +/- 36 to 476 +/- 78 mg/dl (p less than 0.01) in animals fed a diet containing 36% of calories as fat (polyunsaturated/monounsaturated/saturated, 1.0:3.9:4.1) and cholesterol (0.39 mg/kcal). The increase in TPC was due to higher concentrations of the apolipoprotein B (apo B)-containing lipoproteins, particularly low density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL cholesterol concentrations also increased in animals fed a diet containing saturated fat and 0.25 mg/kcal of cholesterol, as well as in animals fed monkey chow. Kinetic studies of LDL indicated both an increased flux of apo B into LDL and a decrease in the fractional catabolic rate of LDL. Mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration decreased from 48 +/- 8.2 to 14 +/- 4 mg/dl, p less than 0.001, in animals fed fat and cholesterol, but there was no significant change in HDL-C in animals fed monkey chow. Blood pressure, fasting serum glucose, and anthropometric measures did not change after 7 months of prednisone therapy. Prednisone increases LDL concentration in the cynomolgus monkey. This animal may be a good model for studying corticosteroid dyslipoproteinemia, and possibly atherosclerosis, in an immunosuppressed host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ettinger
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dysko
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Clarkson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D011241:Prednisone