Paraoxonase 1 and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activities in patients with low hdl-cholesterol levels with or without primary hypertriglyceridemia

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that high density lipoprotein (HDL)-deficient states are associated with reduced paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity. However, HDL reduction caused by primary hypertriglyceridemia has not been fully explored. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether PON1 and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), two antioxidant enzymes, were altered in patients with low HDL-cholesterol levels with or without primary hypertriglyceridemia in comparison with control normolipemic subjects. METHODS: We studied 24 patients with low HDL-cholesterol levels with (n=12) or without (n=12) primary hypertriglyceridemia in comparison with 12 control subjects who presented normal HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Paraoxon and phenylacetate were used as substrate for measuring PON1 activities and 1-hexadecyl-2-[3H]acetyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine for platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity. Double substrate method was used to assign phenotypes. Lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, and lipoprotein particles were determined by standardized methods. RESULTS: Both PON1 activities were significantly reduced in patients with low HDL-cholesterol levels. This reduction could be selectively attributed to the hypertriglyceridemic subgroup. PAF-AH activity was not different between hypoalphalipoproteinemic patients and controls. PON1 activities correlated positively and significantly with HDL-cholesterol, HDL2-cholesterol, HDL3-cholesterol, HDL-phospholipids, apo A-I, apo A-II, and LpA-I:A-II. PAF-AH correlated positively and significantly with total and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this study would suggest that in hypoalphalipoproteinemic syndrome, particularly when associated with hypertriglyceridemia, there is impairment in enzymatic antioxidant activity exclusively related with HDL.     

Transient neonatal tyrosinemia: a frequent abnormality

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of transient neonatal tyrosinemia, with or without secondary hyperphenylalaninemia,observed through neonatal screening for metabolic disorders, andthe need of monitoration and intervention with drugs and/or specialdiet in selected cases. METHODS: 457.870 dried blood samples obtained by heel stickfrom 3 to 20 days old babies were qualitatively evaluated by aminoacid thin-layer chromatography. Positive cases were quantitativelyconfirmed in serum samples by fluorimetric measurement of tyrosineand phenylalanine. RESULTS: 1.231 dried blood samples displayed positive resultsfor tyrosine in the cromatographic evaluation. The fluorimetricserum analysis disclosed normal levels of tyrosine and phenylalaninein 822 patients. The remained 409 patients showed hightyrosine levels and were placed in three groups according to thetyrosine concentration. In 118 of these cases serum phenylalaninewas also increased. CONCLUCIONS: Transient neonatal tyrosinemia is a very frequentdisorder in neonates (1/372); in some cases very high levels werefound, not only of tyrosine but also phenylalanine. As this findingis not yet accepted as absolutely harmless, the monitoration of thissituation and the use of measures to lower the tyrosine and phenylalaninelevels should be considered by the pediatrician.     

Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis induction in B cell-deficient mice

Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) is an animal model for human myasthenia gravis (MG). Autoantibody-induced functional loss of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the postsynaptic membrane is an important pathogenic feature of both MG and EAMG. To evaluate the extent at which the humoral immune response against AChR operates in the pathogenesis of EAMG, we immunized B cell knockout (muMT) and wild- type C57BL/6 mice with AChR and complete Freund's adjuvant. The ability of AChR-primed lymph node cells to proliferate and secrete IFN-gamma in response to AChR and its dominant peptide alpha146-162 were intact in muMT mice as in wild-type mice. Similar amounts of mRNA for IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in AChR-reactive lymph node cells were detected in muMT and wild-type mice. However, muMT mice had no detectable anti-AChR antibodies and remained completely free from clinical EAMG. We conclude that B cells are critically required for the genesis of clinical EAMG, but not for AChR-specific T cell priming.      

Leukodystrophy caused by plasmalogen deficiency rescued by glyceryl 1‐myristyl ether treatment

Plasmalogens are the most abundant form of ether phospholipids in myelin and their deficiency causes Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata (RCDP), a severe developmental disorder. Using the Gnpat‐knockout (KO) mouse as a model of RCDP, we determined the consequences of a plasmalogen deficiency during myelination and myelin homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS). We unraveled that the lack of plasmalogens causes a generalized hypomyelination in several CNS regions including the optic nerve, corpus callosum and spinal cord. The defect in myelin content evolved to a progressive demyelination concomitant with generalized astrocytosis and white matter‐selective microgliosis. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) and mature oligodendrocytes were abundant in the CNS of Gnpat KO mice during the active period of demyelination. Axonal loss was minimal in plasmalogen‐deficient mice, although axonal damage was observed in spinal cords from aged Gnpat KO mice. Characterization of the plasmalogen‐deficient myelin identified myelin basic protein and septin 7 as early markers of dysmyelination, whereas myelin‐associated glycoprotein was associated with the active demyelination phase. Using in vitro myelination assays, we unraveled that the intrinsic capacity of oligodendrocytes to ensheath and initiate membrane wrapping requires plasmalogens. The defect in plasmalogens was rescued with glyceryl 1‐myristyl ether [1‐O‐tetradecyl glycerol (1‐O‐TDG)], a novel alternative precursor in the plasmalogen biosynthesis pathway. 1‐O‐TDG treatment rescued myelination in plasmalogen‐deficient oligodendrocytes and in mutant mice. Our results demonstrate the importance of plasmalogens for oligodendrocyte function and myelin assembly, and identified a novel strategy to promote myelination in nervous tissue.     

Hypovitaminosis D Is Associated with Higher Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and with HAM/TSP in HTLV-Infected Patients

Recent studies have shown the effects of vitamin D on host response to infectious diseases. Some studies detected a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in HIV-infected patients, but scarce information exists for HTLV-1 infection. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the frequency of hypovitaminosis D in HTLV-1 patients and its relationship with their immune response in HTLV-infected patients and in age- and gender-matched controls at a Brazilian rehabilitation hospital. We compared vitamin D, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumoral necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels across groups. Logistic regression was utilized to assess the association between hypovitaminosis D and cytokine levels. We enrolled 161 HTLV-infected subjects (129 HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients, 32 asymptomatic HTLV carriers) and equal number of HTLV-negative controls. We observed a significantly higher prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with HAM/TSP than in HTLV asymptomatic carriers (p < 0.001), or controls (p < 0.001). HAM/TSP patients also had higher levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ than asymptomatic carriers. Patients with HAM/TSP and hypovitaminosis D had higher levels of TNF-α than asymptomatic HTLV carriers. These findings suggest hypovitaminosis D plays a role in HAM/TSP pathogenesis, and it needs to be evaluated in further studies.     

The clinical spectrum of dermatomyositis and the new autoantibodies – with regard to two clinical cases with distinct associations

Dermatomyositis is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy associated with different autoantibodies (anti-MDA5, anti-TIF1-γ) which are linked with typical and distinct phenotypes of dermatomyositis. We describe two cases that illustrate these diverse cutaneous and systemic manifestations.     

Diagnostic imaging of human neuroblastoma with radiolabeled antibody

In a previous study, the authors showed that iodine-131 labeled monoclonal antibody (Mab 3F8) could be used to image human neuroblastoma xenografts in mice with excellent tumor-to-tissue ratios. In this study they report their experience with six patients scanned with radiolabeled 3F8. There was strong accumulation of the labeled antibody in viable tumor, but no significant uptake was noted in normal brain, liver, spleen, or adrenal glands. Tumor-to-nontumor activity ratios varied but were approximately 10:1-20:1. This ratio yields good contrast for visualization. Time-activity curves show that radioactivity levels in normal tissue have a half-time of about 40 hours, whereas tumor tissues show a half-time of about 60 hours. Significant gastric secretion of free iodine demonstrated that the Mab was being deiodinated. Calculated radiation doses indicate that tumors receive at least ten times the dose to other tissues. The results indicate that Mab 3F8 has clinical potential for both imaging and therapy of human neuroblastomas.     

Cytokine production, glutamate release and cell death in rat cultured astrocytes treated with unconjugated bilirubin and LPS

In hyperbilirubinemic newborns, sepsis is considered a risk factor for kernicterus. Evidence shows that injury to astrocytes triggers cytokine release. We examined the effects of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) alone, or in combination with LPS, on the release of glutamate and cytokines from astrocytes in conditions inducing less than 10% of cell death. UCB leads to an increase of extracellular glutamate and highly enhances the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, while inhibiting the production of IL-6. LPS potentiates immunostimulatory properties of UCB. These results point out the role of cytokines and provide a basis for the significance of sepsis in UCB encephalopathy.