Bovine milk lipoprotein lipase transfers tocopherol to human fibroblasts during triglyceride hydrolysis in vitro.

Lipoprotein lipase appears to function as the mechanism by which dietary vitamin E (tocopherol) is transferred from chylomicrons to tissues. In patients with lipoprotein lipase deficiency, more than 85% of both the circulating triglyceride and tocopherol is contained in the chylomicron fraction. The studies presented here show that the in vitro addition of bovine milk lipoprotein lipase (lipase) to chylomicrons in the presence of human erythrocytes or fibroblasts (and bovine serum albumin [BSA]) resulted in the hydrolysis of the triglyceride and the transfer of both fatty acids and tocopherol to the cells; in the absence of lipase, no increase in cellular tocopherol was detectable. The incubation system was simplified to include only fibroblasts, BSA, and Intralipid (an artificial lipid emulsion containing 10% soybean oil, which has gamma but not alpha tocopherol). The addition of lipase to this system also resulted in the transfer of tocopherol (gamma) to the fibroblasts. Addition of both lipase and its activator, apolipoprotein CII, resulted in a further increase in the cellular tocopherol content, but apolipoprotein CII alone had no effect. Heparin, which is known to prevent the binding of lipoprotein lipase to the cell surface membrane, abrogated the transfer of tocopherol to fibroblasts without altering the rate of triglyceride hydrolysis. Thus, in vitro tocopherol is transferred to cells during hydrolysis of triglyceride by the action of lipase, and for this transfer of tocopherol to occur, the lipase itself must bind to the cell membrane.     

Surfactant-based homogeneous assay for the measurement of triglyceride concentrations in VLDL and intermediate-density lipoprotein

BACKGROUND: Existing studies have demonstrated the clinical significance of triglyceride content in VLDL (VLDL-TG) and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL-TG). We developed a homogeneous assay protocol to directly measure VLDL-TG. METHODS: Possible reagents and conditions for measuring VLDL-TG were comprehensively tested, and the "best" combination was determined. Healthy persons were instructed to consume a fatty meal after 15-h overnight fasting. Serum VLDL-TG + IDL-TG concentrations were measured using the proposed method. Patients with serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations > or = 3.62 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) were administered simvastatin at a daily dose of 5 mg, and serum VLDL-TG concentrations were then measured. RESULTS: The combination of 2 nonionic surfactants played an important role in differentiating VLDL and IDL from other lipoproteins, probably via specific interactions with phospholipids and apolipoproteins. The regression line of the proposed method (y) and the ultracentrifugal assay (x) was: y = 0.98x + 0.31 mmol/L (r = 0.98; n = 73; P < 0.05). The difference between postprandial total TG and VLDL-TG concentrations was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of therapy with simvastatin, total TG and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were 13.6% and 26.3% lower, respectively (P < 0.05), whereas VLDL-TG did not show any significant decrease. CONCLUSION: Our homogeneous method can measure TG content in VLDL and IDL.     

Sensitive non-radioisotopic method for measuring lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase in post-heparin plasma

In this method for measuring lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (H-TGL) in post-heparin plasma, we determine the released free fatty acids enzymically. After release, they are extracted by Dole 's method (J. Biol. Chem. 235: 2595-2599, 1960), solubilized with Triton X-100, then measured with an enzymic kit (NEFA Kit-K; Nippon Shoji Kaisha Ltd.) after residual turbidity is removed by centrifugation with chloroform. A 5-microL sample of post-heparin plasma suffices to measure the activity of LPL and H-TGL; thus the method is as sensitive as the radioisotopic method. Selective assay of LPL and H-TGL, by adding sodium dodecyl sulfate to inactivate H-TGL or NaCl to inactivate LPL, is also feasible. The mean activities +/- SD of LPL and H-TGL in plasma of normal healthy men were respectively 9.4 +/- 2.3 mumol/h per milliliter (157 +/- 38 U/L) and 20.1 +/- 10.4 (335 +/- 173 U) mumol/h per milliliter (U/L).     

Effect of medium- and long-chain triglyceride infusion on lipoprotein and hepatic lipase in healthy subjects

Plasma lipolytic activity and hydrolysis of intravenous fat were studied in six healthy subjects during infusion of a long-chain triglyceride (LCT) fat emulsion (Intralipid 20%) or of a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)/LCT emulsion (Lipofundin MCT 20%). The fat emulsions were infused continuously at a rate of 0.17 g triglyceride kg-1 body weight (BW)h-1 for 6 h in random order at 7-day intervals. A continuous infusion of glucose (0.18 g kg-1 BW h-1) was administered for a period of 7 h and was started 1 h before the lipid infusion. Infusions of both types of fat increased plasma triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) levels and steady-state values were present during the 3rd to 5th h of infusion. MCT/LCT infusion resulted in higher plasma levels at steady-state of TG (3.63 +/- 0.45 [SEM] vs 2.73 +/- 0.45 mmol l-1; P less than 0.05), FFA (1.05 +/- 0.08 vs 0.54 +/- 0.04 mmol l-1; P less than 0.01) and LPL (4.6 +/- 0.6 vs 2.6 +/- 0.5 mU ml-1; P less than 0.05) in comparison with LCT administration. There was a positive correlation between plasma LPL activity and TG concentration (r = 0.77; P less than 0.001) when data for the two infusions were combined. Although the same amount of fat was infused on a weight basis, the molar infusion rate was 40% higher with MCT/LCT than with LCT infusion, due to differences in molecular weights (634 vs 885 Da).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of heparin-induced lipolysis on the distribution of apolipoprotein e among lipoprotein subclasses. Studies with patients deficient in hepatic triglyceride lipase and lipoprotein lipase

In normal subjects, apolipoprotein E (apo E) is present on very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) (fraction I) and on particles of a size intermediate between VLDL and low density lipoproteins (LDL) (fraction II). The major portion of apo E is, however, on particles smaller than LDL but larger than the average high density lipoproteins (HDL) (fraction III). To investigate the possible role of the vascular lipases in determining this distribution of apo E among the plasma lipoproteins, we studied subjects with primary deficiency of either hepatic lipase or of lipoprotein lipase and compared them with normal subjects. Subjects with familial hepatic triglyceride lipase deficiency (n = 2) differ markedly from normal in that fraction II is the dominant apo E-containing group of lipoproteins. When lipolysis of VLDL was enhanced in these subjects upon release of lipoprotein lipase by intravenous heparin, a shift of the apo E from VLDL into fractions II and III was observed. In contrast, apolipoproteins CII and CIII (apo CII and CIII, respectively) did not accumulate in intermediate-sized particles but were shifted markedly from triglyceride rich lipoproteins to HDL after treatment with heparin. In subjects with primary lipoprotein lipase deficiency (n = 4), apo E was confined to fractions I and III. Release of hepatic triglyceride lipase by heparin injection in these subjects produced a shift of apo E from fraction I to III with no significant increase in fraction II. This movement of apo E from large VLDL and chylomicron-sized particles occurred with little hydrolysis of triglyceride and no significant shift of apo CII or CIII into HDL from triglyceride rich lipoproteins. When both lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase were released by intravenous heparin injection into normal subjects (n = 3), fraction I declined and the apo E content of fraction III increased by an equivalent amount. Either moderate or no change was noted in the intermediate sized particles (fraction II). These data strongly support the hypothesis that fraction II is the product of the action of lipoprotein lipase upon triglyceride rich lipoproteins and is highly dependent on hepatic triglyceride lipase for its further catabolism. In addition, the hydrolysis by hepatic triglyceride lipase of triglyceride rich lipoproteins in general results in a preferential loss of apo E and its transfer to a specific group of large HDL.     

Evaluation of the roles of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase in lipoprotein metabolism: in vivo and in vitro studies in man

Abstract. The roles of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and VLDL remnant metabolism were investigated by (1) in vivo studies where the kinetics of VLDL-apo B removal were measured in patients with non-functioning lipoprotein lipase systems, and (2) in vitro studies where the relative capacities of hepatic lipase and LPL to hydrolyse the triglyceride (TG) of different lipoprotein substrates was measured. The results indicated that VLDL-apo B removal was not impaired in patients with non-functional LPL, nor was there any apparent abnormality in the conversion of VLDL-apo B to intermediate- (IDL) and low (LDL) density lipoprotein-apo B. Post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase activity against VLDL was normal in these subjects. Purified normal hepatic lipase had a similar K_m for VLDL-TG hydrolysis (1.57 mmol/l) to that of LPL (1.49 mmol/l). However, at equal lipoprotein TG concentration, hepatic lipase had increasing activity with lipoproteins of decreasing particle size, in the order chylomicrons ≪ VLDL of Sf 100–400 < VLDL of Sf 60–100 < VLDL of Sf 20–60 < IDL. The mean contribution of hepatic lipase to VLDL-TG hydrolysis by post-heparin plasma was 35% in normal controls, but the contribution to IDL-TG hydrolysis was significantly higher (mean = 58%). It is concluded that hepatic lipase plays a significant role in VLDL and, especially, IDL metabolism, at least in patients with non-functioning lipoprotein lipase.     

Impaired intermediate-density lipoprotein triglyceride hydrolysis in familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency

A new lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)-deficient family was found in Japan. In the proband, both LCAT activity and LCAT mass were deficient. The patient's parents, child, and sister, diagnosed as heterozygotes, had half-normal LCAT activity and LCAT mass. In the patient, an increase of intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL, 1.006 less than d less than 1.019) fraction was observed. In postheparin plasma, both lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase activities were low. Hydrolysis of [14C] triolein by human hepatic triglyceride lipase in patient IDL was decreased compared to that in IDL from normal postprandial serum. Preincubation of these IDL with normal plasma in the absence of 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) increased the rate of hydrolysis, in the presence of DTNB, this increment was not observed. These results suggest that one cause of IDL increase in the LCAT-deficient patient might be the difficulty of hydrolysis of these lipoprotein particles by hepatic triglyceride lipase.     

Impaired intermediate-density lipoprotein triglyceride hydrolysis in familial lecithin: Cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency

A new lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)-deficient family was found in Japan. In the proband, both LCAT activity and LCAT mass were deficient. The patient's parents, child, and sister, diagnosed as heterozygotes, had half-normal LCAT activity and LCAT mass. In the patient, an increase of intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL, 1.006<d<1.019) fraction was observed. In postheparin plasma, both lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase activities were low. Hydrolysis of [¹⁴C] triolein by human hepatic triglyceride lipase in patient IDL was decreased compared to that in IDL from normal postprandial serum. Preincubation of these IDL with normal plasma in the absence of 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) increased the rate of hydrolysis, in the presence of DTNB, this increment was not observed. These results suggest that one cause of IDL increase in the LCAT-deficient patient might be the difficulty of hydrolysis of these lipoprotein particles by hepatic triglyceride lipase.     

Cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein: use of Mg2+/dextran sulfate in its enzymic measurement.

We describe a method for measuring high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. MgCl2 and dextran sulfate are used to precipitate all low-density and very-low-density lipoproteins. The supernate contains only high-density lipoproteins, the cholesterol concentration of which is estimated by an enzymic method, with a discrete analyzer (Abbott Bichromatic Analyzer). Concentration and instrument response are linearly related to 50 mg/liter. The precision of the method is excellent in the range of clinical interest (100 to 1000 mg of cholesterol per liter). The precision and efficiency of the precipitation are shown at various concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The method was compared to that of two laboratories in the Cooperative Lipoprotein Phenotyping Study group by testing a number of split samples, and agreement was good.     

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase activities in thyroid dysfunction--effects of treatment

We have investigated the effects of hyper- and hypothyroidism (clinical and subclinical) on lipid metabolism, with special emphasis on serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase activities. In 16 patients with hyperthyroidism, increased post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase activity, decreased serum total cholesterol and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found while lipoprotein lipase activity and serum triglyceride were normal. In six patients with overt hypothyroidism serum total cholesterol and triglyceride were increased, post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase were decreased while serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was normal. In six patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, serum total cholesterol was increased, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was decreased, while serum triglyceride, post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase were normal. When the three groups of patients became euthyroid, serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase, lipoprotein lipase, and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol reverted to normal except for serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the hyperthyroid group which showed no significant change with treatment. A positive correlation was found between serum T3 and post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase while negative correlations were found between serum total cholesterol and serum T3, post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase and serum total cholesterol, lipoprotein lipase and serum triglyceride respectively. Thus in these patients with thyroid dysfunction, significant reversible alterations in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found and could be correlated with the observed changes in the activities of hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase.     

Efficacy and safety measures for low density lipoprotein apheresis treatment using dextran sulfate cellulose columns.

Long-term low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis using dextran sulfate cellulose (DSC) columns is a well tolerated treatment for drug refractory hypercholesterolemia with coronary heart disease (CHD). Hypercholesterolemic patients may benefit from LDL apheresis combined with cholesterol lowering drug therapy in terms of the prevention of the progression of atherosclerosis, stabilization of atheromatous plaque, and reduction of cardiac events. The major adverse reaction of LDL apheresis is temporal hypotension caused by hypovolemia or vasovagal reactions due to extracorporeal circulation. Anaphylactoid reactions in patients administered angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) are other dextran sulfate cellulose column related adverse reactions, which must be carefully prevented by ceasing the administration of ACE-I before LDL apheresis treatment. ACE-I must not be administered to patients undergoing LDL apheresis.     

Effects of apolipoproteins on lipoprotein lipase activity of human adipose tissue.

The effect of apolipoproteins isolated from HDL and VLDL on the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) of adipose tissue was studied. The CII apoprotein was found to activate LPL. This activation was strongly inhibited by CI, AI (apo-Lp-Gln I), and the arginine-rich apoprotein, whereas AII and CIII exhibited a considerably lower inhibitor effect.     

Composition of very low density lipoproteins and in vitro effect of lipoprotein lipase.

In order to clarify the relationship between composition and lipolytic responses to lipoprotein lipase (LPL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) from rats or humans were incubated with a commercially available LPL or with a partially purified LPL from postheparin human plasma and fatty acids released from VLDL were determined in vitro. VLDL from rats fed a diet containing 0.25% cholesterol for 6 months were rich in cholesterol and poor in triglycerides, and released less fatty acids from incubation with LPL than those from control rats. VLDL from normo-and hypertriglyceridemic human subjects were incubated with LPL. The fatty acid release poorly correlated with the apoprotein ratios of VLDL, apo C-III/C-II, B/E, and C/E with the exception of apo B/C, but it correlated well with the ratio of triglyceride/either one of the surface components including total apoproteins, free cholesterol and phospholipids in VLDL or the ratio of the triglyceride/total sum of the surface components. The correlation coefficients between fatty acid release and a ratio of triglyceride/total surface components were 0.774 (using the commercially available LPL) and 0.786 (using the partially purified human LPL). The fatty acid release increased after pretreatment of VLDL with phospholipase A2. The phospholipid content of VLDL was reduced without significant changes in other VLDL components. Thus, the responses of VLDL to LPL treatment may depend mainly upon the surface: core relationship of VLDL rather than its apoprotein composition except in rare clinical cases such as apo C-II deficiency.     

新型硫酸葡聚糖血脂分离系统治疗高脂血症

目的 采用新型硫酸葡聚糖(DS)血脂分离系统用于治疗高脂血症,在保证安全、有效的基础上简化血脂分离工艺,大幅度降低治疗费用.方法 选择南京医科大学第一附属医院肾内科50例患者共110例次血脂分离治疗,首先用单采机采集患者高脂血浆,按10ml/kg体重采集总量(600 ± 100)ml.然后血浆中加入静脉注射用DS作为吸附剂,Ca2 作为催化剂,DS特异性吸附LDL形成大颗粒,用离心法去除胆固醇、三酰甘油.结果 每次血脂分离治疗总胆固醇下降11%(6.52±0.5)和(5.8±0.4);三酰甘油下降15%(3.85±2.1)和(3.27±1.5);LDL-C下降20%(4.03±0.86)和(3.2±0.52);HDL-C保持不变(1.13±0.28)和(1.13±0.41);白蛋白保持不变(45±5)和(45±4),过量的Ca2 被阳离子树脂柱完全吸附.结论 新型DS血脂分离系统工艺合理、操作过程简单、易于推广应用.特别是治疗费用低廉,更适合需要多次治疗才能纠正血脂异常的患者.     

The complete digestion of human milk triacylglycerol in vitro requires gastric lipase, pancreatic colipase-dependent lipase, and bile salt-stimulated lipase.

Gastric lipase, pancreatic colipase-dependent lipase, and bile salt-stimulated lipase all have potential roles in digestion of human milk triacylglycerol. To reveal the function of each lipase, an in vitro study was carried out with purified lipases and cofactors, and with human milk as substrate. Conditions were chosen to resemble those of the physiologic environment in the gastrointestinal tract of breast-fed infants. Gastric lipase was unique in its ability to initiate hydrolysis of milk triacylglycerol. Activated bile salt-stimulated lipase could not on its own hydrolyze native milk fat globule triacylglycerol, whereas a limited hydrolysis by gastric lipase triggered hydrolysis by bile salt-stimulated lipase. Gastric lipase and colipase-dependent lipase, in combination, hydrolyzed about two thirds of total ester bonds, with monoacylglycerol and fatty acids being the end products. Addition of bile salt-stimulated lipase resulted in hydrolysis also of monoacylglycerol. When acting together with colipase-dependent lipase, bile salt-stimulated lipase contributed also to digestion of tri- and diacylglycerol. We conclude that digestion of human milk triacylglycerol depends on three lipases with unique, only partly overlapping, functions. Their concerted action results in complete digestion with free glycerol and fatty acids as final products.     

Post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase in normal subjects and in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia: correlations to sex, age and various parameters of triglyceride metabolism.

1. A selective immunochemical method was used to measure post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activity in eighty-two normal subjects and in twenty patients with type IIb, IV or V hypertriglyceridaemia. In twenty-six normal subjects the activity of post-heparin plasma lipases was compared with the kinetic parameters of endogenous plasma triglyceride metabolism. 2. The activity of post-heparin lipoprotein lipase was significantly higher in normal females than in males, whereas the activity of hepatic lipase showed an opposite sex ratio. The activity of lipoprotein lipase decreased with age both in males and females, whereas no significant age variation was observed in the activity of hepatic lipase. 3. In normal subjects a highly significant negative correlation was present in both sexes between the activity of post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase and fasting serum triglyceride concentration, but not between the activity of post-heparin hepatic lipase and serum triglycerides. 4. The fractional removal rate of endogenous triglycerides was positively correlated to the activity of lipoprotein lipase but not to the activity of hepatic lipase. No relationship was found between the activities of post-heparin plasma lipases and the absolute turnover of serum triglycerides. 5. The mean activity of post-heparin plasma lipo-protein lipase was significantly lower in subjects with hyperprebetalipoproteinaemia than in normal individuals. However, many hypertriglyceridaemic patients had lipoprotein lipase within the normal range and there was no correlation between serum triglyceride concentration and the activity of post-heparin lipases. 6. All three patients with fasting chylomicronaemia had low post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity. Several subjects with high post-heparin plasma hepatic lipase activity were present in the group with hyperprebetalipoproteinaemia, but the mean value of the hepatic lipase was not significantly different from normal.     

Effect of cyclosporine on HMG-CoA reductase, cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase, LDL receptor, HDL receptor, VLDL receptor, and lipoprotein lipase expressions

Long-term administration of cyclosporine (CsA) has been shown to cause hypercholesteremia, hypertriglyceridemia, and elevations of plasma low-density and very low-density lipoprotein (LDL and VLDL) levels in humans. This study was undertaken to explore the effects of CsA on expressions of the key lipid regulatory enzymes and receptors. Thus, hepatic expressions of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (the rate-limiting step in cholesterol conversion to bile acids), LDL receptor, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor proteins, as well as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity were determined in rats treated with CsA (18 mg/kg/day) or placebo for 3 weeks. In addition, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue expressions of lipoprotein lipase and VLDL receptor were measured. Western blot analysis was used for all protein measurements using appropriate antibodies against the respective proteins. CsA-treated animals showed mild but significant elevations of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. This was associated with a marked down-regulation of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase in the liver and a severe reduction of lipoprotein lipase abundance in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. However, hepatic LDL receptor and HDL receptor expressions and HMG-CoA reductase activity were not altered by CsA therapy. Likewise, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue VLDL receptor protein expressions were unaffected by CsA administration under the given condition. In conclusion, CsA administration for 3 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase and marked down-regulation of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase abundance in rats. The former abnormality can contribute to hypercholesterolemia by limiting cholesterol catabolism, whereas the latter may contribute to hypertriglyceridemia and VLDL accumulation by limiting triglyceride-rich lipoprotein clearance in CsA-treated animals.