ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) affects total body sterol metabolism

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Members of the family of ABC transporters are involved in different processes of sterol metabolism, and ABCA1 was recently identified as a key regulator of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism. Our aim was to further analyze the role of ABCA1 in cholesterol metabolism. METHODS: ABCA1-deficient mice (ABCA1-/-) and wild-type mice were compared for different aspects of sterol metabolism. Intestinal cholesterol absorption was determined by a dual stable isotope technique, and analysis of fecal, plasma, and tissue sterols was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Key regulators of sterol metabolism were investigated by Northern and Western blot analyses or enzyme activity assays. RESULTS: ABCA1-disrupted sv129/C57BL/6 hybrid mice showed a significant reduction in intestinal cholesterol absorption. The decrease in cholesterol absorption was followed by an enhanced fecal loss of neutral sterols, whereas fecal bile acid excretion was not affected. Total body cholesterol synthesis was significantly increased, with enhanced 3-hydroxy-3-methyglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase observed in adrenals and spleen. In addition, ABCA1-/- mice showed markedly increased concentrations of cholesterol precursors in the plasma, lung, intestine, and feces. Reduced HMG-CoA reductase messenger RNA and enzyme activity in the liver suggest that enhanced cholesterol synthesis in ABCA1-/- mice occurs in peripheral tissues rather than the liver. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolism of cholesterol and cholesterol precursors is markedly affected by a lack of ABCA1 function.     

Apo-intermediate in the transport cycle of lactose permease (LacY)

The lactose permease (LacY) catalyzes coupled stoichiometric symport of a galactoside and an H⁺. Crystal structures reveal 12, mostly irregular, transmembrane α-helices surrounding a cavity with sugar- and H⁺- binding sites at the apex, which is accessible from the cytoplasm and sealed on the periplasmic side (an inward-facing conformer). An outward-facing model has also been proposed based on biochemical and spectroscopic measurements, as well as the X-ray structure of a related symporter. Converging lines of evidence demonstrate that LacY functions by an alternating access mechanism. Here, we generate a model for an apo-intermediate of LacY based on crystallographic coordinates of LacY and the oligopeptide/H⁺ symporter. The model exhibits a conformation with an occluded cavity inaccessible from either side of the membrane. Furthermore, kinetic considerations and double electron-electron resonance measurements suggest that another occluded conformer with bound sugar exists during turnover. An energy profile for symport is also presented.     

Cholesterol crystal uptake and metabolism by P388D1 macrophages

Cholesterol monohydrate crystals are frequently detected in intermediate and advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Little is known regarding mobilization of this molecular form of cholesterol into metabolically active pools. To study a potential mechanism for mobilization of crystalline cholesterol, we examined its uptake by a mouse macrophage cell line (P388D1). Crystals were overlayered on a P388D1 cell monolayer maintained in a serum-free medium. Following incubation, the monolayer was washed, and the cells were harvested and analyzed for crystal internalization. By transmission electron microscopy, crystals were found intracellularly surrounded by a bilayer membrane. Analyses of the cellular cholesterol ester content by gas-liquid chromatography and esterification of [14C]cholesterol indicated the conversion of crystalline cholesterol to cholesterol esters. This pathway for solubilization of cholesterol crystals by macrophages could play an important role in the regression of atherosclerotic lesions.     

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose metabolism in human myocytes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been shown to have insulin-like effects upon the metabolism of glucose in rat liver, muscle and fat, and on that of lipids in rat and human adipocytes. These actions seem to be exerted through specific receptors which, unlike that of the pancreas, are not - at least in liver and muscle - cAMP-associated. Here we have investigated the effect, its characteristics, and possible second messengers of GLP-1 on the glucose metabolism of human skeletal muscle, in tissue strips and primary cultured myocytes. In muscle strips, GLP-1, like insulin, stimulated glycogen synthesis, glycogen synthase a activity, and glucose oxidation and utilization, and inhibited glycogen phosphorylase a activity, all of this at physiological concentrations of the peptide. In cultured myotubes, GLP-1 exerted, from 10(-13) mol/l, a dose-related increase of the D-[U-(14)C]glucose incorporation into glycogen, with the same potency as insulin, together with an activation of glycogen synthase a; the effect of 10(-11) mol/l GLP-1 on both parameters was additive to that induced by the equimolar amount of insulin. Synthase a was still activated in cells after 2 days of exposure to GLP-1, as compared with myotubes maintained in the absence of peptide. In human muscle cells, exendin-4 and its truncated form 9-39 amide (Ex-9) are both agonists of the GLP-1 effect on glycogen synthesis and synthase a activity; but while neither GLP-1 nor exendin-4 affected the cellular cAMP content after 5-min incubation in the absence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine (IBMX), an increase was detected with Ex-9. GLP-1, exendin-4, Ex-9 and insulin all induced the prompt hydrolysis of glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs). This work shows a potent stimulatory effect of GLP-1 on the glucose metabolism of human skeletal muscle, and supports the long-term therapeutic value of the peptide. Further evidence for a GLP-1 receptor in this tissue, different from that of the pancreas, is also illustrated, suggesting a role for an inositolphosphoglycan (IPG) as at least one of the possible second messengers of the GLP-1 action in human muscle.     

Comparison between self-report and a dipstick method (NicCheck 1) to assess nicotine intake

The purpose of this study was to investigate the agreement between self-reported tobacco consumption and NicCheck 1 (Dynagen Inc. Cambridge, Mass., USA) regarding smoking status and nicotine intake in a population of smokers (20.8%) and non-smokers. NicCheck 1 is a dipstick that changes colour in the presence of urinary nicotine metabolites. Smoking was assessed by self-report and NicCheck 1 in 169 males and 191 females (mean age 36.0 SD 0.7). Self-report and NicCheck 1 agreed highly on smoking status, especially in moderate to heavy smokers. With regard to nicotine intake, there was a large overlap in self-reported tobacco consumption between NicCheck 1 levels, despite a relatively high correlation coefficient between self-report and NicCheck 1 in smokers (i.e. 0.74). No effect modification by gender or BMI was found. When both methods were validated against two blood lipid parameters, self-report seemed to do equally well as NicCheck 1 in assessing nicotine intake.     

Serum alkaloid reaction hydrochloride quinine turbidity test (II)

Journal of Gastroenterology -     

Extraneuronal uptake of noradrenaline in human tissue (uptake2)

Summary The neurotransmitter, noradrenaline, is inactivated by active transport out of the synaptic cleft, either back into the adrenergic neurons (uptake₁) or into extraneuronal cells (uptake₂). Although experimental models clearly demonstrate uptake₂ in various animal tissues, there are few reports of studies that demonstrate uptake₂ in human tissue. Furthermore, uptake₂ has never been described in human heart tissue. We demonstrated a reduction of³H-noradrenaline uptake in human atrial and venous tissue and in rat atrial and ventricular tissue by O-methylisoprenaline — a known inhibitor of uptake₂. These results indicate that uptake₂, as has been described in previous experimental models, does exist in humans and further, the results emphasize the importance of uptake₂, since about 50% of exogenous noradrenaline is inactivated by uptake₂ in the rat heart.     

High glucose reduces albumin uptake in cultured proximal tubular cells (LLC-PK1)

In this study, we clarify that high glucose inhibits albumin uptake in cultured LLC-PK1 cells. LLC-PK1 cells cultured for 6 days with 5.5-27.8 mM D-glucose were challenged by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated human albumin (HA). FITC-HA binding and uptake were inhibited by >5.5mM glucose (5.5 mM > (P < 0.01) 11.0 mM > (P < 0.05) 16.7 mM approximately= 27.8 mM). Analysis of FITC-HA binding and uptake at 5.5 and 16.7 mM D-glucose (high glucose, HG) showed decreased affinity (K(m) for binding: 35.5 mg/l versus 52.6 mg/l, K(m) for uptake; 41.3 mg/l versus 55.6 mg/l) and maximal velocity (B(max)--0.33 microg versus 0.27 microg/30 min/mg protein; U(max)--4.40 microg versus 3.48 microg/60 min/mg protein) at HG. A comparison of the time courses of FITC-HA binding and uptake at 5.5 mM glucose and at HG showed that HG suppressed them beyond 15 min (P < 0.005-0.001). Phlorizin (>0.25 mM) completely reversed the HG-induced inhibition of FITC-HA binding and uptake. High glucose decreased mRNA of GLUT-1 and SGLT-1, but did not influence that of SGLT-2. The simultaneous presence of Vitamin E (10(-6)M), Vitamin C (10(-6)M) and reduced glutathione (0.25 mM) reversed the suppressed FITC-HA binding and uptake by HG, while any one or two of these molecules, and various inhibitors of advanced glycation end products, failed to do so. In conclusion, a high glucose milieu causes inhibition of albumin binding and uptake in proximal tubular cells by increasing metabolic oxidative stress through excessive glucose flux via the sodium glucose transporter.     

Monoubiquitin-dependent endocytosis of the iron-regulated transporter 1 (IRT1) transporter controls iron uptake in plants

Plants take up iron from the soil using the iron-regulated transporter 1 (IRT1) high-affinity iron transporter at the root surface. Sophisticated regulatory mechanisms allow plants to tightly control the levels of IRT1, ensuring optimal absorption of essential but toxic iron. Here, we demonstrate that overexpression of Arabidopsis thaliana IRT1 leads to constitutive IRT1 protein accumulation, metal overload, and oxidative stress. IRT1 is unexpectedly found in trans-Golgi network/early endosomes of root hair cells, and its levels and localization are unaffected by iron nutrition. Using pharmacological approaches, we show that IRT1 cycles to the plasma membrane to perform iron and metal uptake at the cell surface and is sent to the vacuole for proper turnover. We also prove that IRT1 is monoubiquitinated on several cytosol-exposed residues in vivo and that mutation of two putative monoubiquitination target residues in IRT1 triggers stabilization at the plasma membrane and leads to extreme lethality. Together, these data suggest a model in which monoubiquitin-dependent internalization/sorting and turnover keep the plasma membrane pool of IRT1 low to ensure proper iron uptake and to prevent metal toxicity. More generally, our work demonstrates the existence of monoubiquitin-dependent trafficking to lytic vacuoles in plants and points to proteasome-independent turnover of plasma membrane proteins.     

Hepatic uptake of organic anions affects the plasma bilirubin level in subjects with Gilbert's syndrome mutations in UGT1A1

Although in Gilbert's syndrome (GS), bilirubin glucuronidation is impaired due to an extra TA in the TATA box of the promoter of the gene for bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 (UGT1A1), many GS homozygotes lack unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Accordingly, an additional defect in bilirubin transport might be required for phenotypic expression. Plasma bilirubin and the early fractional hepatic uptake rate (BSP K(1)) of a low dose of tetrabromosulfophthalein (0.59 micromol/kg) were determined in (1) 15 unrelated patients with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia plus 12 random controls; (2) 4 unrelated GS probands and 15 of their first-degree relatives; (3) 7 unrelated patients with hemolysis due to beta-Thalassemia minor. Subjects were classified by DNA sequencing of the promoter region of both UGT1A1 alleles. In group 1, GS homozygotes showed a highly significant negative linear correlation between plasma bilirubin levels and BSP K(1). BSP K(1) values overlapped considerably between GS and normal subjects, whereas, in group 2, they were clustered within, and sharply segregated among, families. Patients with hemolysis, despite elevated plasma bilirubin levels, had mean BSP K(1) values similar to the normal subjects. Within each GS subgroup with defined UGT1A1 mutations, the plasma bilirubin level is in part determined by the organic anion uptake rate, assessed by early plasma disappearance of low-dose BSP. The lower BSP uptake in GS is not secondary to the hyperbilirubinemia, but probably caused by (an) independent, genetically determined defect(s) in hepatic transport mechanism(s), shared by BSP and bilirubin, that are likely necessary for phenotypic expression of GS.     

Chymase mediates angiotensin-(1-12) metabolism in normal human hearts

Identification of angiotensin-(1-12) [Ang-(1-12)] in forming angiotensin II (Ang II) by a non-renin dependent mechanism has increased knowledge on the paracrine/autocrine mechanisms regulating cardiac expression of Ang peptides. This study now describes in humans the identity of the enzyme accounting for Ang-(1-12) metabolism in the left ventricular (LV) tissue of normal subjects. Reverse phase HPLC characterized the products of ¹²⁵I-Ang-(1-12) metabolism in plasma membranes (PMs) from human LV in the absence and presence of inhibitors for chymase (chymostatin), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 1 (lisinopril) and 2 (MLN-4760), and neprilysin (SHC39370). In the presence of the inhibitor cocktail, ≥98% ± 2% of cardiac ¹²⁵I-Ang-(1-12) remained intact, whereas exclusion of chymostatin from the inhibitor cocktail led to significant conversion of Ang-(1-12) into Ang II. In addition, chymase-mediated hydrolysis of ¹²⁵I-Ang I was higher compared with Ang-(1-12). Negligible Ang-(1-12) hydrolysis occurred by ACE, ACE2, and neprilysin. A high chymase activity was detected for both ¹²⁵I-Ang-(1-12) and ¹²⁵I-Ang I substrates. Chymase accounts for the conversion of Ang-(1-12) and Ang I to Ang II in normal human LV. These novel findings expand knowledge of the alternate mechanism by which Ang-(1-12) contributes to the production of cardiac angiotensin peptides.     

Interleukin 1 dose-dependently affects the biosynthesis of (pro)insulin in isolated rat islets of Langerhans

Summary Human crude and recombinant interleukin 1 (IL-1) was found to dose- and time-dependently affect the biosynthesis of (pro)insulin in isolated rat islets of Langerhans. Incubation of rat islets with either 0.5 U/ml or 5 U/ml of crude IL-1 for 1 h had no detectable effect on (pro)insulin biosynthesis. After 24 hours of exposure 0.5 U/ml of crude or 0.6 ng/ml of recombinant IL-1 (beta) increased the (pro)insulin biosynthesis by 42% and 58%, respectively, whereas a 10-fold greater concentration of IL-1 decreased the (pro)insulin biosynthesis by 74% and 89%, respectively. The increase in (pro)insulin biosynthesis was accompanied by an increase in total protein biosynthesis indicating a nonspecific stimulatory action of low IL-1 concentrations. In contrast, high IL-1 concentrations caused a more selective decrease of the (pro)insulin biosynthesis when compared to the total protein biosynthesis. In addition, low IL-1 concentrations were found to increase and high concentrations to decrease the relative levels of pre-proinsulin mRNA suggesting that IL-1 may act both at a pre- and post-translational level of insulin biosynthesis.     

Influence of uptake1 and uptake2 on the relationship between diffusion and metabolism of noradrenaline in the perfused rabbit ear artery

3H-metabolite effluxes from each surface of the perfused rabbit ear artery were measured during a 30-min period of application of 3H-(-)-noradrenaline (NA) to the intimal surface, the adventitial surface, and both surfaces simultaneously. The arteries were from reserpine-treated rabbits and were perfused in Ca-free medium containing prazosin to prevent the constrictor activity of NA. During intimal application, 3H-normetanephrine (NMN) was the principal metabolite. Effects of hydrocortisone, and of cocaine, indicated that (a) 3H-NMN was derived largely via uptake2, (b) 3H-3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol (DOPEG) was derived largely via uptake1, and (c) uptake2 limited access of the NA to sites of uptake1. During adventitial application, 3H-DOPEG was the principal metabolite. Effects of cocaine and hydrocortisone indicated that (a) 3H-DOPEG was derived largely via uptake1, (b) 3H-NMN was only partly derived via uptake2, and (c) uptake1 limited access of the NA to sites of uptake2. When 3H-NA entered both surfaces simultaneously, the effluxes of the deaminated catechols were identical to those prevailing during adventitial entry of the amine. In contrast, the effluxes of NMN corresponded more closely to the sum of those prevailing during entry via each surface separately. It is suggested that, in the perfused artery, regional differences in the diffusivity of NA between the adventitia and media are primarily responsible for the marked influence which the surface of entry exerts on exogenous NA metabolism.