狭窄血管远心端低密度脂蛋白浓度极化促进动脉粥样硬化形成

低密度脂蛋白（low density lipoprotein,LDL）浓度极化可能是动脉粥样硬化局灶性的重要原因,本文以狭窄血管远心端为研究对象,探讨LDL浓度极化对动脉粥样硬化发生、发展的影响。用数值计算模拟狭窄血管远心端LDL的壁面浓度分布,用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜测定狭窄血管远心端LDL沿z轴的浓度分布;用外科手术方法建立颈总动脉局部狭窄的实验模型,从整体动物水平观察LDL浓度极化对动脉粥样硬化形成的影响。数值计算和激光扫描共聚焦显微镜测定的结果表明,狭窄血管远心端存在显著的LDL浓度极化现象,且LDL壁面浓度与入口液流速度和狭窄程度有关：在相同的速率下,LDL壁面浓度在狭窄度为40％的圆管内最大;在狭窄程度相同的情况下,雷诺数（Re）为250时测得的LDL壁面浓度高于Re为500时测得的壁面浓度。整体动物实验表明,在狭窄血管远心端LDL浓度极化显著的区域形成明显的动脉粥样硬化病变,并且有大量的脂质沉积。以上结果提示,LDL浓度极化可能是导致动脉粥样硬化局灶性的重要因素。     

载脂蛋白B的分子生物学基础

载脂蛋白B(apoB)是富含甘油三酯和胆固醇的脂蛋白(CM、VLDL和LDL)特有的蛋白质成分。apoB₁₀₀是LDL受体的专一性配基,介导血中LDL-胆固醇(LDL-Ch)被外周组织细胞摄取和清除。载脂蛋白B基因遗传变异和apoB异常,血中LDL-Ch堆积,导致动脉粥样硬化发生是冠心病危险因素。     

单细胞LDL受体与清道夫受体活性的同时测定

结合应用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜系统(LSCM)和DiI-AcLDL及BODIPY FL-LDL两种荧光配基选择性标记技术,可在单细胞水平上同时测定LDL受体和清道夫受体活性.C57BL/6J小鼠巨噬细胞用终浓度为5mg/L的 DiI-AcLDL及BODIPY FL-LDL,在37℃负载5 h左右的条件下可获得良好的标记效果.两种荧光配基选择性标记具有高度特异性,在激光共聚焦显微镜下可清晰、定量地观察细胞对LDL和AcLDL摄入,是一种灵敏度高且可定量研究LDL受体和清道夫受体功能的非同位素方法.     

染料配基吸附层析纯化血清白蛋白

将染料分子偶联于交联琼脂糖凝胶上制成蓝色、红色和黄色等五种层析介质进行血清白蛋白分离的研究。比较了五种染料配基的吸附性能,考察了温度、pH值、蛋白质浓度和无机盐浓度对吸附血清白蛋白的影响。选择了合适的分离条件。从产妇分娩血中用染料配基吸附层析提取了人血清白蛋白(HAS)。一步分离达到电泳纯,回收率为95％,优于传统的盐析工艺。     

胆固醇酶试剂测定血清HDL—C的探讨

血清低密度脂蛋白(LDL)是引起动脉粥样硬化的主要致病物质,血清HDL的作用则恰恰相反,是从动脉壁上清除LDL的物质基础,可被视为防御和保护动脉血管壁的重要物质。 许多研究证明冠心病患者即使血清总胆固醇正常,而HDL亦可降低。有人认为血清HDL的降低是临床冠心病的先兆,因此,测定血清HDL更为必要。     

脂蛋白与冠心病

冠心病绝大多数由动脉粥样硬化引起,而动脉粥样硬化的形成与消退均与血浆脂蛋白有密切关系。近年上述两者的关系已不断得到阐明,不仅血浆低密度脂蛋白浓度的增高可引起动脉粥样斑块的形成,且高密度脂蛋白浓度的降低亦与动脉粥样斑块的产生有关。此外,低密度脂蛋白(LDL)受体缺陷已被认为是家族性高胆固醇血症的原因。本文以脂蛋白为中心就血脂与脂蛋白的关系、高脂蛋白血症,动脉粥样硬化病变的预防,动脉粥样斑块的消退等四个方面探讨了动脉粥样硬化的发病原理与冠心病的防治问题。     

定向合成化学配基亲和层析纯化碱性磷酸酶

设计合成一种含有碱性磷酸酶抑制剂－对氨基苄基磷酸的化学配基并将其耦联到琼脂糖凝胶上,制备出新型的亲和层析介质,分离纯化从小牛肠中提取的碱性磷酸酶。经过对不同配基浓度吸附剂碱性酸酶吸附容量的考察,确定配基浓度为６μｍｏｌ／ｇ的吸附剂具有最高的酰选择性。     

染料木素体外抑制人低密度脂蛋白氧化修饰作用

为探讨染料木素对人低密度脂蛋白(LDL)氧化修饰的影响,采用铜离子(10 umol/L)体外氧化LDL的方法,观察大豆异黄酮主要成分染料木素(genistein)对LDL氧化过程中脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量和维生素E(VitE)水平的影响。结果:10 umol/LCuSO4与100 mg/L LDL共同孵育18 h,MDA含量明显升高,VitE含量明显降低,染料木素(0.25、1.25、2.5、12.5、25、50、125、250 umol/L)能显著降低MDA含量,升高VitE含量(P<0.01,P<0.05,P<0.02),且呈剂量依赖性。提示一定浓度范围的染料木素体外有抗LDL氧化修饰作用。     

pcsk9基因突变与胆固醇血症

  常染色体显性高胆固醇血症（ADH）是家族早发性动脉粥样硬化的最主要的危险因素.在与ADH有关的基因突变中,LDL-R、apoB100基因突变导致ADH的机制已经比较明确,而pcsk9基因突变与ADH相关是最近发现的.pcsk9基因编码神经凋亡调节转化酶即NARC-1, 它通过在蛋白水平降低肝细胞上LDL受体的数量,使血液中LDL不能被清除,从而与高胆固醇血症相关联.研究pcsk9与LDL之间的关系,探索pcsk9在高胆固醇血症以及动脉粥样硬化发生中的作用及机制,将有助于高胆固醇血症和动脉粥样硬化发病机制的研究,也能为防治高胆固醇血症和动脉粥样硬化提供新思路.     

动脉系统中致动脉粥样性脂质的浓度极化现象

用计算机数值模拟的方法, 对平直动脉血管段中低密度脂蛋白(LDL)的传输进行了研究. 计算结果表明, LDL会在动脉血管内壁表面发生一种叫做浓度极化的现象. 在正常生理流动条件下, LDL在动脉血管壁面的浓度一般高出本体浓度5%~14%. LDL壁面浓度随渗流速率的增加而增加, 随流动壁面剪切率的增加而减小. 在壁面剪切率很低时, LDL壁面浓度对局部流动状态的变化非常敏感, 随壁面剪切率的减小而急剧上升. 为了验证数值计算结果, 用牛血清白蛋白替代LDL对平直动脉血管段中蛋白分子壁面浓度进行了实测, 测试结果与计算结果基本吻合. 可以认为, 浓度极化这一物质传输现象确实存在于人体循环系统, 并且是引发动脉粥样硬化局部性的一个非常重要的原因.     

Absorption of ethanol by steam-exploded corn stalk

The aim of this work is to study the feasibility of using a low-cost biomass absorbent steam-exploded corn stalk (SECS) to absorb ethanol in its production by fermentation. Measurement of many the physical properties of SECS showed its specific surface area was about 214 m(2)/g and it had a good structure for absorption. Some influencing parameters of using SECS to absorb ethanol in water were studied. Second-order and parabolic diffusion equations excellently described the kinetics of absorption for ethanol. Its absorption isotherm was well described by an improved BET equation, indicating that it was a process of polymolecular layer absorption and had phenomena similar to capillary coacervation. Mesh size did not significantly affect absorptivity, but absorbency decreased with temperature. Absorptivity of SECS for ethanol was compared to that of other absorbents: at 30 degrees C and 5% initial ethanol, the absorptivity of SECS for ethanol at 5h was 92 mg/g. When inactivated through use, SECS can continue to be used as an substrate to produce more ethanol, thus avoiding pollution through discarding.     

Electrostatic interactions and complement activation on the surface of phospholipid vesicle containing acidic lipids: Effect of the structure of acidic groups

Anionic vesicles containing acidic phospholipids are known complement activators. To clarify which negative physicochemical electrostatic charges on vesicles and structural specificities of acidic lipids are critical to complement activation, the electrostatic properties and activity to complement of two anionic vesicles modified with a carboxylic acid derivative or a conventional acidic phospholipid were compared. Electrophoretic mobility measurements indicated that the negative zeta potential and the electrostatic interactivity of these two anionic vesicles were equal at pH 7.4. However, the infusion of vesicles containing acidic phospholipid induced significant complement activation, while vesicles containing the carboxylic acid derivative failed to activate complement. These results indicate that the negative charge on the surface of vesicles is not critical for the activation complement, suggesting that complement activation is specific to the structure of acidic groups. This finding is likely to be important to the design of anionic biointerfaces and may support the promising medical applications of this anionic vesicle modified with a carboxylic acid derivative.     

Atomic-scale structure and electrostatics of anionic palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylglycerol lipid bilayers with Na+ counterions

Anionic palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POPG) is one of the most abundant lipids in nature, yet its atomic-scale properties have not received significant attention. Here we report extensive 150-ns molecular dynamics simulations of a pure POPG lipid membrane with sodium counterions. It turns out that the average area per lipid of the POPG bilayer under physiological conditions is approximately 19% smaller than that of a bilayer built from its zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine analog, palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine. This suggests that there are strong attractive interactions between anionic POPG lipids, which overcome the electrostatic repulsion between negative charges of PG headgroups. We demonstrate that interlipid counterion bridges and strong intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding play a key role in this seemingly counterintuitive behavior. In particular, the substantial strength and stability of ion-mediated binding between anionic lipid headgroups leads to complexation of PG molecules and ions and formation of large PG-ion clusters that act in a concerted manner. The ion-mediated binding seems to provide a possible molecular-level explanation for the low permeability of PG-containing bacterial membranes to organic solvents: highly polar interactions at the water/membrane interface are able to create a high free energy barrier for hydrophobic molecules such as benzene.     

Ultrastructural localization of anionic sites on the surface of yeast, hyphal and germ-tube forming cells of Candida albicans

The cell wall of Candida albicans contains chitin, beta-glucans and phosphorylated mannoproteins, and possesses a fuzzy coat which is thought to play a role in pathogenicity, phagocytosis, and adherence of this dimorphic yeast. Using scanning electron microscopy and the gold method, mannoproteins were detected on the whole surface of blastoconidia including the bud scars, but chitin was absent even after alpha-mannosidase treatment of the cells. The presence of surface beta-(1----6)glucan (but not beta(1----3)glucan) was observed only after extensive alpha-mannosidase and alkaline phosphatase treatments of blastoconidia. Using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, the locations of anionic sites were revealed by polycationic colloidal gold-chitosan complexes on the surface of blastoconidia, germ tubes and hyphae. Anionic sites were dispersed evenly over the surface of blastoconidia bearing bud scars. Depending upon the growth conditions, anionic sites could be detected on emerging buds and young cells. However, bud scars were always free of marking. When germ-tube formation was induced, anionic sites were present at different densities on all cell surfaces, the highest density being observed on cells with bud scars. Anionic sites were detected at a remarkably high density on all hyphal surfaces. An apical concentration of anionic sites was observed on germ tubes and hyphae. The distribution of anionic sites was not modified by endoglucosaminidase treatment of blastoconidia, germ tubes and hyphae. The anionic sites were associated with the fuzzy coat. As the hyphal form is regarded as possessing the greatest invasiveness, it is suggested that anionic sites play an important role in establishing tissue colonization by this human pathogen.     

Vesicle fusion with bilayer lipid membrane controlled by electrostatic interaction

The fusion of proteoliposomes is a promising approach for incorporating membrane proteins in artificial lipid membranes. In this study, we employed an electrostatic interaction between vesicles and supported bilayer lipid membranes (s-BLMs) to control the fusion process. We combined large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) containing anionic lipids, which we used instead of proteoliposomes, and s-BLMs containing cationic lipids to control electrostatic interaction. Anionic LUVs were never adsorbed or ruptured on the SiO₂ substrate with a slight negative charge, and selectively fused with cationic s-BLMs. The LUVs can be fused effectively to the target position. Furthermore, as the vesicle fusion proceeds and some of the positive charges are neutralized, the attractive interaction weakens and finally the vesicle fusion saturates. In other words, we can control the number of LUVs fused with s-BLMs by controlling the concentration of the cationic lipids in the s-BLMs. The fluidity of the s-BLMs after vesicle fusion was confirmed to be sufficiently high. This indicates that the LUVs attached to the s-BLMs were almost completely fused, and there were few intermediate state vesicles in the fusion process. We could control the position and amount of vesicle fusion with the s-BLMs by employing an electrostatic interaction.     

The Influence of Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose on Drug Release from Polyethylene Oxide Extended Release Matrices

Anionic polymer sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CELLOGEN® HP-HS and/or HP-12HS) was investigated for its ability to influence the release of three model drugs propranolol hydrochloride, theophylline and ibuprofen from polyethylene oxide (POLYOX™ WSR 1105 and/or Coagulant) hydrophilic matrices. For anionic ibuprofen and non-ionic theophylline, no unusual/unexpected release profiles were obtained from tablets containing a mixture of two polymers. However, for cationic propranolol HCl, a combination of polyethylene oxide (PEO) with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) produced a significantly slower drug release compared to the matrices with single polymers. The potential use of this synergistic interaction can be a design of new extended release pharmaceutical dosage forms with a more prolonged release (beyond 12 h) using lower polymer amount, which could be particularly beneficial for freely water-soluble drugs, preferably for once daily oral administration. In order to explain changes in the obtained drug release profiles, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy was performed. A possible explanation for the more prolonged propranolol HCl release from matrices based on both PEO and NaCMC may be due to a chemical bond (i.e. ionic/electrostatic intermolecular interaction) between amine group of the cationic drug and carboxyl group of the anionic polymer, leading to a formation of a new type/form of the active (i.e. salt) with sustained release pattern.Key words: extended release, FT-IR, ibuprofen, matrix tablet, polyethylene oxide, polymer combination, propranolol hydrochloride, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, theophylline     

Lipoprotein electrostatic properties regulate hepatic lipase association and activity.

The effect of lipoprotein electrostatic properties on the catalytic regulation of hepatic lipase (HL) was investigated. Enrichment of serum or very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) with oleic acid increased lipoprotein negative charge and stimulated lipid hydrolysis by HL. Similarly, enrichment of serum or isolated lipoproteins with the anionic phospholipids phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidic acid, or phosphatidylserine also increased lipoprotein negative charge and stimulated hydrolysis by HL. Anionic lipids had a small effect on phospholipid hydrolysis, but significantly stimulated triacylglyceride (TG) hydrolysis. High density lipoprotein (HDL) charge appears to have a specific effect on lipolysis. Enrichment of HDL with PI significantly stimulated VLDL-TG hydrolysis by HL. To determine whether HDL charge affects the association of HL with HDL and VLDL, HL-lipoprotein interactions were probed immunochemically. Under normal circumstances, HL associates with HDL particles, and only small amounts bind to VLDL. PI enrichment of HDL blocked the binding of HL with HDL. These data indicate that increasing the negative charge of HDL stimulates VLDL-TG hydrolysis by reducing the association of HL with HDL. Therefore, HDL controls the hydrolysis of VLDL by affecting the interlipoprotein association of HL. Lipoprotein electrostatic properties regulate lipase association and are an important regulator of the binding and activity of lipolytic enzymes.     

Electrostatic interactions during acidic phospholipid reactivation of DnaA protein, the Escherichia coli initiator of chromosomal replication.

The initiation of Escherichia coli chromosomal replication by DnaA protein is strongly influenced by the tight binding of the nucleotides ATP and ADP. Anionic phospholipids in a fluid bilayer promote the conversion of inactive ADP-DnaA protein to replicatively active ATP-DnaA protein in vitro, and thus likely play a key role in regulating DnaA activity. Previous studies have revealed that, during this reactivation, a specific region of DnaA protein inserts into the hydrophobic portion of the lipid bilayer in an acidic phospholipid-dependent manner. To elucidate the requirement for acidic phospholipids in the reactivation process, the contribution of electrostatic forces in the interaction of DnaA and lipid was examined. DnaA-lipid binding required anionic phospholipids, and DnaA-lipid binding as well as lipid-mediated release of DnaA-bound nucleotide were inhibited by increased ionic strength, suggesting the involvement of electrostatic interactions in these processes. As the vesicular content of acidic phospholipids was increased, both nucleotide release and DnaA-lipid binding increased in a linear, parallel manner. Given that DnaA-membrane binding, the insertion of DnaA into the membrane, and the consequent nucleotide release all require anionic phospholipids, the acidic headgroup may be necessary to recruit DnaA protein to the membrane for insertion and subsequent reactivation for replication.     

A receptor-based biosensor for lipoprotein docking at the endothelial surface and vascular matrix

Proteoheparan sulfate can be adsorbed to a methylated silica surface in a monomolecular layer via its transmembrane hydrophobic protein core domain. Due to electrostatic repulsion, its anionic glycosaminoglycan side chains are stretched out into the blood substitute solution, representing a receptor site for specific lipoprotein binding through basic amino acid-rich residues within their apolipoproteins. The binding process was studied by ellipsometric techniques showing that HDL has a high binding affinity to the receptor and a protective effect on interfacial heparan sulfate proteoglycan layers, with respect to LDL and Ca²⁺ complexation. LDL was found to deposit strongly at the proteoheparan sulfate, particularly in the presence of Ca²⁺, thus creating the complex formation ‘proteoglycan–low density lipoprotein–calcium’. This ternary complex build-up may be interpreted as arteriosclerotic nanoplaque formation on the molecular level responsible for the arteriosclerotic primary lesion. On the other hand, HDL bound to heparan sulfate proteoglycan protected against LDL docking and completely suppressed calcification of the proteoglycan–lipoprotein complex. In addition, HDL and aqueous garlic extract were able to reduce the ternary complex deposition and to disintegrate HS-PG/LDL/Ca²⁺ aggregates. Although much remains unclear regarding the mechanism of lipoprotein depositions at proteoglycan-coated surfaces, it seems clear that the use of such systems offers possibilities for investigating lipoprotein deposition at a ‘nanoscopic’ level under close to physiological conditions. In particular, Ca²⁺-promoted LDL deposition and the protective effect of HDL, even at high Ca²⁺ and LDL concentrations, agree well with previous clinical observations regarding risk and beneficial factors for early stages of atherosclerosis. Therefore, we believe that the system can be of some use in investigations, e.g. of the interplay between different lipoproteins in arteriosclerotic plaque formation, as well as in high throughput screening of candidate drugs to atherosclerosis in a biosensor application.     

Annular Anionic Lipids Stabilize the Integrin αIIbβ3 Transmembrane Complex

Cationic membrane-proximal amino acids determine the topology of membrane proteins by interacting with anionic lipids that are restricted to the intracellular membrane leaflet. This mechanism implies that anionic lipids interfere with electrostatic interactions of membrane proteins. The integrin αIIbβ3 transmembrane (TM) complex is stabilized by a membrane-proximal αIIb(Arg⁹⁹⁵)-β3(Asp⁷²³) interaction; here, we examine the influence of anionic lipids on this complex. Anionic lipids compete for αIIb(Arg⁹⁹⁵) contacts with β3(Asp⁷²³) but paradoxically do not diminish the contribution of αIIb(Arg⁹⁹⁵)-β3(Asp⁷²³) to TM complex stability. Overall, anionic lipids in annular positions stabilize the αIIbβ3 TM complex by up to 0.50 ± 0.02 kcal/mol relative to zwitterionic lipids in a headgroup structure-dependent manner. Comparatively, integrin receptor activation requires TM complex destabilization of 1.5 ± 0.2 kcal/mol, revealing a sizeable influence of lipid composition on TM complex stability. We implicate changes in lipid headgroup accessibility to small molecules (physical membrane characteristics) and specific but dynamic protein-lipid contacts in this TM helix-helix stabilization. Thus, anionic lipids in ubiquitous annular positions can benefit the stability of membrane proteins while leaving membrane-proximal electrostatic interactions intact.