体外氧化修饰高密度脂蛋白对人单核细胞源性泡沫细胞内胆固醇流出的影响

目的探讨体外氧化修饰后的高密度脂蛋白（ox-HDL）对人外周血单核细胞源性泡沫细胞内胆固醇流出的影响。方法采用一次性密度梯度超速离心法从血浆中分离低密度脂蛋白（LDL）及高密度脂蛋白（HDL）,分别以Cu2+诱导法将其氧化修饰成ox-LDL及ox-HDL。采用密度梯度离心法和塑料吸附法从人外周血中分离出单核细胞,以50nmol/L佛波酯（PMA）刺激48h使之转化为巨噬细胞。细胞分为对照组（ox-LDL组）、阳性对照组（HDL组）及实验组（ox-HDL组）,对照组仅加入终浓度为80mg/L的ox-LDL;HDL组和ox-HDL组分别先加入终浓度均为50mg/L的HDL和ox-HDL共孵育1h后,再分别加入终浓度为80mg/L的ox-LDL,并于实验的0、6、12及24h测定细胞内总胆固醇（TC）、游离胆固醇（FC）及蛋白（Pro）含量。观察不同时间点各组细胞内TC/Pro比值的变化,并比较ox-HDL与HDL对细胞内TC/Pro比值影响的时效关系。结果成功地由体外氧化修饰了LDL及HDL并制备出理想的泡沫细胞模型。在实验的6、12及24h,ox-HDL组细胞内TC/Pro比值均较HDL组细胞高,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论体外氧化修饰后的HDL导致其胆固醇逆向转运（RCT）功能与效率的降低。     

HDL cholesterol efflux capacity is related to disease activity in psoriatic arthritis patients

Clinical Rheumatology - Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is the ability of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol to accept cholesterol from macrophages. CEC is linked to cardiovascular events...     

Receptors for multiplication-stimulating activity on human arterial and venous endothelial cells

Primary cultures of endothelial cells were prepared from the arteries and veins of human umbilical cords. Both arterial and venous endothelial cells demonstrated specific receptors for the insulin-like growth factor MSA (Multiplication-Stimulating Activity). Insulin, at concentrations up to 10(-7) M, had little effect on 125I-MSA binding whereas MSA was congruent to 1% as potent as insulin in competing with 125I-insulin binding. Serum containing anti-insulin receptor antibodies blocked binding of 125I-insulin to the endothelial cells but had little effect on 125I-MSA binding. We conclude that human endothelial cells have specific and distinct receptors for both MSA and insulin.     

Dietary corn oil versus olive oil enhances HDL protein turnover and lowers HDL cholesterol levels in hamsters.

We studied the effect of dietary olive and corn oil on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism in golden Syrian hamsters. The animals were fed a semipurified diet containing 0.1% cholesterol and 40 energy % in the form of either olive or corn oil for a period of nine weeks. Hamsters fed corn oil had significantly lower very-low density and low-density lipoprotein (VLDL+LDL) cholesterol concentrations than those fed olive oil (0.98+/-0.24 vs. 1.40+/-0.34 mmol/l, means+/-S.D., n = 12), as well as significantly lower HDL cholesterol concentrations (3.31+/-0.50 vs. 3.91+/-0.12 mmol/l). The binding capacity of 125I-labelled HDL to liver membranes was 33% higher in the hamsters fed corn oil instead of olive oil (571+/-29 vs. 429+/-24 ng HDL protein/mg membrane protein, P<0.05, n = 4). HDL protein kinetics were studied with 125I-HDL using a constant infusion technique. Both HDL fractional catabolic rate (0.255+/-0. 058 vs. 0.121+/-0.023 /h, P<0.01, n = 5) and transport rate (2.386+/-0. 753 vs. 1.218+/-0.101 mg/h, P<0.01, n = 5) were about 2-fold higher in the hamsters fed corn oil. The rate of plasma cholesterol esterification by lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was essentially the same for the two diets. It is concluded that the low HDL level in the hamsters fed corn oil diets is linked with increased HDL binding and degradation in the liver and possibly other tissues. Due to increased HDL protein turnover, the capacity for reverse cholesterol transport is increased in hamsters fed corn oil despite the relative low HDL concentrations     

Sphingomyelin biosynthesis and efflux correlates with cholesterol metabolism and is higher in vascular endothelial cells than in smooth muscle cells

We compared the metabolism of cellular phospholipids in bovineaortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells in culture [³H]Cholinewas incorporated in both cell types into phosphatidylcholine(86–90%) and sphingomyelin (10–14%) Endothelialcells demonstrated preferential efflux of sphingomyelin whichrepresented 22.5% of the radiolabelled phospholipids in theincubation medium while in smooth muscle cells it represented10%, so that after 7 days, the sphingomyelin b the medium represented40% and 16% of total synthesized sphingomyelin in endothelialand smooth muscle cells, respectively. Incorporation of [³H]choline by endothelial and smooth muscle cells was reduced inthe presence of serum, but not in the presence of lipoproteindeficient serum, indicating that cells can acquire phosphatidylcholineand sphingomyelin fron lipoproteins. Lipoproteins were shownalso to support the efflux of cellular radiolabelled phospholipidsfrom both cell types but at a higher degree from endothelialcells than from smooth muscle cells. Exposure of these culturesto cholesterol rich serum increased the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine,and to a higher extent of sphingomyelin, with concomitant decreasein the efflux of these two phospholipids. These results demonstratethe role of cholesterol in the regulation of phosphatidyl cholineand sphingomyelin biosynthesis and efflux in vascular cells.Furthermore, the higher efflux of sphingomyelin in endothelialcells than in smooth muscle cells may support the extensiveefflux of cholesterol observed in endothelial cells am indicatebiochemical differences in lipid metabolism between vascularendothelial and smooth muscle cells.     

Contribution of cholesteryl ester transfer protein and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase to HDL size distribution

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) includes a heterogeneous class of lipoproteins grouped into various subclasses that seem to have different antiatherogenic function. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) play an active role in HDL remodeling. This study was designed to define the role of CETP and LCAT activities on HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) plasma levels and HDL size distribution, as determined by nondenaturating polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis in 47 clinically healthy Mexican individuals without personal and family history of coronary heart disease. Surprisingly, plasma activities of CETP (29+/-4.1% of transfer) and LCAT (4.8+/-2.2% of esterification) did not correlate either with HDL-C plasma levels or with any other lipid parameter, indicating the poor contribution of these proteins to the lipid profile. The CETP activity showed a negative correlation with small HDL3b (r = -0476, P < 0.05), whereas LCAT was positively associated with this HDL subclass (r = 0.466, P < 0.05). The LCAT showed a negative correlation with large HDL2a (r = - 0.674, P < 0.005). Nevertheless, when the LCAT/CETP ratio was calculated, we observed that the higher the ratio, the greater the relative proportion of small HDL3b (r = 0.551, P < 0.05) and HDL3c (r = 0.477, P < 0.05). These results suggest that the balance of LCAT and CETP activities have a great impact in the plasma HDL size distribution.     

A novel mutant, ApoA-I nichinan (Glu235-->0), is associated with low HDL cholesterol levels and decreased cholesterol efflux from cells.

A novel variant of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I associated with low high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterolemia has been identified in a Japanese family during screening for apoA-I variants by isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel analysis. ApoA-I (Glu235-->0) Nichinan was caused by a 3-bp deletion of nucleotides 1998 through 2000 in exon 4 of the apoA-I gene. Four subjects in the family were heterozygous carriers for this mutation; the mean plasma concentrations of apoA-I and HDL cholesterol of affected family members were 30% and 32% lower, respectively, than those of unaffected family members. There were no differences in the levels of very low density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and other apolipoproteins between the carriers and the noncarrier family members. In the proband, plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity was normal. Functional consequences of the mutation were examined by expressing the mutated and wild-type proapoA-I cDNAs in Escherichia coli. Cholesterol efflux to recombinant proapoA-I Nichinan from mouse peritoneal macrophages loaded with [3H]cholesterol-labeled acetylated low density lipoprotein was decreased by 54% when compared that of normal recombinant proapoA-I. In vivo turnover studies in normal rabbits demonstrated that the recombinant proapoA-I Nichinan was rapidly cleared (22% faster) compared with normal recombinant proapoA-I. We conclude that apoA-I (Glu235-->0) Nichinan induced a critical structural change in the carboxyl-terminal domain of apoA-I for cellular cholesterol efflux and increased the catabolism of apoA-I, resulting in low HDL cholesterol levels.     

Hepatocyte growth factor is a survival factor for endothelial cells and is expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques

While the hypocholesterolemic effects of taurine have extensively been studied using experimental animals, the anti-atherosclerotic effects of taurine have been given less attention. We examined the effect of taurine on atherosclerotic lesions in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Treatment of WHHL rabbits with taurine (0.3% in drinking tap water) for 24 weeks decreased aortic lesions by 31%, estimated as intimal thickening. Taurine significantly decreased cholesteryl ester content of aortic arch, thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta by 35, 43, and 54%, respectively. Concomitantly, activity of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), an enzyme responsible for cholesterol esterification, was also significantly decreased. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed decreased macrophages in the intima of taurine-treated rabbits. Taurine had no apparent effect on blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. Contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), a marker of lipid peroxidation, was reduced in serum and aorta by 29 and 50%, respectively, when taurine was ingested. In addition, LDL from taurine-treated rabbits was resistant to copper-induced oxidative modification. These results revealed that taurine prevents development of atherosclerosis and that the anti-atherosclerotic effects of taurine are independent of serum cholesterol levels. The anti-oxidant action of taurine may be involved in inhibiting atherosclerosis in these rabbits.     

Homocysteine, an atherogenic stimulus, reduces protein C activation by arterial and venous endothelial cells

Elevated blood levels of homocysteine are associated with atherosclerosis and thrombotic disease. We previously reported that treatment of cultured endothelial cells with homocysteine increased endogenous factor V activity by activation of the cofactor. Because endothelial cell-associated factor Va would be regulated by the protein C mechanism, the ability of homocysteine-treated arterial and venous endothelial cells to activate protein C was investigated. Both arterial and venous endothelial cells activated protein C; 0.6 mmol/L homocysteine reduced endothelial cell protein C activation by 12%. Maximal inhibition (90%) of protein C activation occurred with 7.5 to 10 mmol/L homocysteine after 6 to 9 hours of incubation. Metabolism of homocysteine was not accelerated by cultured endothelial cells. Investigation of the mechanism(s) by which homocysteine reduced protein C activation indicated that the metabolite did not induce an inhibitor to activated protein C, but in low concentrations acted as a competitive inhibitor to thrombin. These data suggest that perturbation of the vascular endothelial cell protein C mechanism by homocysteine may contribute to the thrombotic tendency seen in patients with elevated blood levels of this metabolite.     

Supernatant protein factor, which stimulates the conversion of squalene to lanosterol, is a cytosolic squalene transfer protein and enhances cholesterol biosynthesis

Squalene epoxidase, a membrane-associated enzyme that converts squalene to squalene 2,3-oxide, plays an important role in the maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis. In 1957, Bloch and colleagues identified a factor from rat liver cytosol termed "supernatant protein factor (SPF)," which promotes the squalene epoxidation catalyzed by rat liver microsomes with oxygen, NADPH, FAD, and phospholipid [Tchen, T. T. & Bloch, K. (1957) J. Biol. Chem. 226, 921-930]. Although purification of SPF by 11,000-fold was reported, no information is so far available on the primary structure or biological function of SPF. Here we report the cDNA cloning and expression of SPF from rat and human. The encoded protein of 403 amino acids belongs to a family of cytosolic lipid-binding/transfer proteins such as alpha-tocopherol transfer protein, cellular retinal binding protein, yeast phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (Sec14p), and squid retinal binding protein. Recombinant SPF produced in Escherichia coli enhances microsomal squalene epoxidase activity and promotes intermembrane transfer of squalene in vitro. SPF mRNA is expressed abundantly in the liver and small intestine, both of which are important sites of cholesterol biosynthesis. SPF is expressed significantly in isolated hepatocytes, but the expression level was markedly decreased after 48 h of in vitro culture. Moreover, SPF was not detectable in most of the cell lines tested, including HepG2 and McARH7777 hepatomas. Transfection of SPF cDNA in McARH7777 significantly stimulated de novo cholesterol biosynthesis. These data suggest that SPF is a cytosolic squalene transfer protein capable of regulating cholesterol biosynthesis.     

Postprandial variations in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity,phospholipid transfer protein activity and plasma cholesterol efflux capacity in normolipidemic men

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Plasma cholesterol efflux capacity is stimulated during postprandial (PP) hypertriglycerdemia. Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) are the key proteins in lipoprotein metabolism and remodelling, but their role during the PP cholesterol efflux process remains indeterminate. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a fatty meal intake on plasma CETP and PLTP activities, and the capacity of plasma to promote cholesterol efflux, as well as to evaluate the relationship between these three key mechanisms of the reverse cholesterol transport process. METHODS AND RESULTS: CETP and PLTP activities and the cholesterol efflux capacity of plasma were measured over eight hours following a fatty meal (1000 kcal, 62% fat) in 13 normolipidemic men. CETP activity and the cholesterol efflux capacity of plasma from Fu5AH cells increased after the meal, reaching a maximum after eight hours (respectively 32%, p = 0.06, and 6.5%, p = 0.045), whereas PLTP activity remained unchanged. CETP and PLTP activities did not correlate with plasma cholesterol efflux capacity in the fasting or PP state. Plasma CETP activity in the fasting state positively correlated with the plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, but no correlation was found with any lipid or apolipoprotein postprandially. The cholesterol efflux capacity of plasma correlated positively with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) components, the best correlation being with the HDL phospholipid fraction in both the fasting and PP states. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that plasma CETP and PLTP activities in healthy normolipidemic subjects are differently regulated in the PP state, and are not correlated with the increased cholesterol efflux capacity of PP plasma. HDL-phospholipid remains the key factor in the regulation of the capacity of plasma to promote Fu5AH cell cholesterol efflux.     

C-reactive protein enhances LOX-1 expression in human aortic endothelial cells: relevance of LOX-1 to C-reactive protein-induced endothelial dysfunction

C-reactive protein (CRP), a characteristic inflammatory marker, is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular events. Recent data suggest that CRP may also promote atherogenesis through inducing endothelial dysfunction. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a newly identified endothelial receptor for oxLDL that plays a pivotal role in oxLDL-induced endothelial dysfunction. Whether CRP may regulate endothelial LOX-1 and induce endothelial dysfunction through this receptor is unknown. In the present study, we studied the in vitro effect of CRP on LOX-1 expression in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and the role of LOX-1 in CRP-induced human monocyte adhesion to endothelium and oxLDL uptake by endothelial cells. Incubation of HAECs with CRP enhanced, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, LOX-1 mRNA and protein levels. Induction of LOX-1 protein was already present at 5 microg/mL CRP and reached a maximum at 25 microg/mL. This effect was reduced by antibodies against CD32/CD64, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The extent of stimulation of LOX-1 achieved by CRP was comparable to that elicited by high glucose and IL-6 and remained unchanged in presence of these factors. Finally, CRP increased, through LOX-1, both human monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells and oxLDL uptake by these cells. We conclude that CRP enhances endothelial LOX-1 expression and propose a new mechanism by which CRP may promote endothelial dysfunction, that of inducing LOX-1.     

Fasting serum adiponectin concentration is reduced in Indo-Asian subjects and is related to HDL cholesterol

Aims: Adiponectin is a 30-kDa protein secreted by adipose tissue. The aim of the present study was to compare serum adiponectin in male Indo-Asian and Caucasian subjects and examine its association with fat topography and metabolic parameters.
Methods: Diabetic and non-diabetic male subjects (n = 48) were studied. A single observer carried out blood pressure and anthropometric measurements. Serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile and adiponectin (measured by RIA) were measured on a fasting sample.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference in serum adiponectin between diabetic and BMI-matched non-diabetic subjects. However, serum adiponectin was lower in Indo-Asians compared with BMI-matched Caucasians, [median adiponectin (interquartile range) 3.3 (2.1–3.9) vs. 4.9 (3.5–6.6) μg/ml respectively (p = 0.016)]. Univariate analysis showed serum adiponectin to be positively associated with HDL in diabetic (p = 0.039) and non-diabetic subjects (p = 0.0098). Waist circumference (p = 0.02), saggital diameter (p = 0.04) were negatively correlated with serum adiponectin in diabetic subjects. Multiple regression analysis including waist, HDL, fasting insulin, age, diabetes and ethnicity in all subjects showed HDL to be the best predictor of serum adiponectin.
Conclusions: Serum adiponectin is associated with HDL cholesterol and central obesity. Caucasians have higher serum adiponectin levels compared with Indo-Asians. Further studies are needed to explore basis for the association of adiponectin with HDL cholesterol and the reason for lower levels in Indo-Asians.