Acylation stimulating protein (ASP) is a 76 amino acid fragment of the third component of
complement (C3) which is generated by the interaction of adipsin and factor B with C3. In
vitro studies have shown that ASP can markedly increase triglyceride synthesis in
adipocytes. To test the ASP pathway in vivo, C3-deficient mice, and therefore ASP-deficient
mice, were generated and oral fat loads were conducted in wild-type (C3+/+) and mutant
(C3–/–) animals. The principal results were: 1) postprandial triglyceride clearance was …