脂蛋白（a）的研究进展──生物化学与分子生物学方面

脂蛋白（ａ）［Ｌｐ（ａ）］是一种与低密度脂蛋白类似的脂蛋白,其特殊处在于多含一种具明显多态性的糖蛋白──载脂蛋白（ａ）［Ａｐｏ（ａ）］。Ａｐｏ（ａ）与血浆纤溶酶原有很大同源性。Ｌｐ（ａ）由肝合成,其分解可能主要经非特异途径。Ａｐｏ（ａ）大小及血浆Ｌｐ（ａ）浓度主要由Ａｐｏ（ａ）基因决定。Ｌｐ（ａ）易沉积于血管壁,并可促进平滑肌细胞生长及抑制纤维蛋白溶解,这可能是其促动脉粥样硬化和血栓形成的机理所在。Ｌｐ（ａ）的生理功能尚不清楚。     

脂蛋白（a）受体与LDL受体关系的研究

本文用蛋白质免疫印迹方法研究了猕猴肝细胞膜上脂蛋白（ａ）受体和ＬＤＬ受体。探讨当前尚有争议的脂蛋白（ａ）与ＬＤＬ的代谢是经同一受体途径还是不同受体途径。实验结果显示：脂蛋白（ａ）受体（－３００ｋＤ０与ＬＤＬ受体（－１８５ｋＤ）是分子量不同的两种受体。该结果揭示脂蛋白（ａ）有其自身的代谢途径。     

稀土对肌质网Ca~（2＋）－ATP酶活性的影响

研究了镧、轧、镱及四种配合物对Ｃａ~（２＋）－ＡＴＰ酶活性的影响．结果表明,低浓度的Ｌａ~（３＋）,Ｇｄ~（３＋）和Ｙｂ~（３＋）对肌质网Ｃａ~（２＋）－ＡＴＰ酶有激活作用;随着其浓度的增加,它们对酶活性的抑制程度增大;而Ｌａ~（３＋）,Ｇｄ~（３＋）和Ｙｂ~（３＋）对纯化的Ｃａ２~（＋）－ＡＴＰ酶则只有抑制作用;Ｇｄ─Ｎ─乙酰─缬氨酸和Ｙｂ─丙氨酰代丙氨酸配合物对肌质网膜和纯化的Ｃａ~（２＋）－ＡＴＰ酶活性的影响与Ｇｄ~（３＋）及Ｙｂ~（３＋）类似,但其激活程度和抑制程度比Ｇｄ~（３＋）及Ｙｂ~（３＋）小;Ｇｄ─ＤＴＰＡ和Ｙｂ－ＤＴＰＡ对Ｃａ２~（＋）－ＡＴＰ酶活性基本无影响。     

Ca~（2＋）与含β－桐酸磷脂脂质体的相互作用

通过测定含β－桐酸（β－ＥＳＡ）的双棕榈酰磷脂酰胆碱（ＤＰＰＣ）脂质体在加入Ｃａ（２＋）后浊度,粒度及内包荧光物释放的变化,研究了Ｃａ（２＋）与ＤＰＰＣ／β－ＥＳＡ脂质体的相互作用,结果表明,ＤＰＰＣ／β－ＥＳＡ脂质体是一类对外加Ｃａ（２＋）敏感的脂质体,Ｃａ（２＋）的作用首先是引起脂质体间的集聚然后使脂质体融合;此时加速脂质体内包荧光物的释放。     

爱滋病的反义抑制治疗

爱滋病的反义抑制治疗黄建生，王昌才，任大明（广州第一军医大学生物化学教研室，广州５１０５１５）（复旦大学遗传所国家重点实验室，上海２００４３３）关键词反义ＲＮＡ，爱滋病（ＡＩＤＳ）反义ＲＮＡ是一种与ｍＲＮＡ互补的ＲＮＡ分子，是反义基因的转录产物，它能...     

反义RNA对人胃癌细胞生长抑制及恶性表型的阻断作用

ｒａｓ原癌基因的点突变是人胃癌发生发展的重要机理之一。利用能表达ｃ－Ｈ－ｒａｓ癌基因反义ＲＮＡ的质粒,导入人胃癌细胞系ＢＧＣ－８２３,研究了ｒａｓ癌基因反义ＲＮＡ对人胃癌细胞生长及恶性表型的作用,结果表明,ｃ－Ｈ－ｒａｓ反义ＲＮＡ可引起ＢＧＣ－８２３生长速率及形态的变化,在半固体培养基中细胞集落形成能力减弱,部分地抑制了ＢＧＣ－８２３在裸鼠体内的致瘤性。ｃ－Ｈ－ｒａｓ反义ＲＮＡ对其ＲＮＡ的过量表达呈特异性抑制作用。     

ASGP受体介导的体内基因转移

我们针对肝细胞特异的ＡＳＧＰ（去唾液酸糖蛋白）受体,构建了一种具有肝细胞特异导向性的基因转移载体系统,该载体包括两种共价结合的功能成分：一种为ＡＳＧＰ,作为配体,与肝细胞表面特异的ＡＳＧＰ受体结合;另一种为多聚左旋赖氨酸（ｐｏｌｙ－Ｌ－ｌｙｓｉｎｅ）,与ＤＮＡ以强静电作用相结合。小鼠尾静脉注射３２Ｐ－ＤＮＡ－ｐｏｌｙ－Ｌ－ｌｙｓｉｎｅ－ＡＳＯＲ（去唾液酸ａｌ酸性糖蛋白）或等量的３２Ｐ－ＤＮＡ、ＡＳＯＲ、ｐｏｌｙ－ＤＬ－ｌｙｓｉｎｅ单体混合物,２０小时后,小鼠肝、脾、肾各组织的放射性计数结果表明该载体系统具有较强的肝组织特异性。     

神经节苷脂GM_3对肌质网Ca~（2＋）－ATP酶活力的调节

研究了神经节苷脂ＧＭ_３参入肌质网膜后Ｃａ~（２＋）－ＡＴＰ酶活力的变化,结果表明：ＧＭ_３参入肌质网膜后,对肌质网Ｃａ~（２＋）ＡＴＰ酶活性（ＡＴＰ水解活力与转运活力）有明显的激活作用．当参入的ＧＭ_３浓度为８μｍｏｌ／Ｌ、参入时间为１２０ｍｉｎ、温度为３０℃时,对Ｃａ~（２＋）－ＡＴＰ酶的激活作用最大．     

狂犬病毒aG株糖蛋白在pET原核系统中的表达及纯化

在狂犬病的临床诊断和基础研究中都迫切需要大量纯度高且价廉的狂犬病毒糖蛋白抗原。本文应用带有Ｈｉｓ６尾的ｐＥＴ原核表达系统对狂犬病毒（ＲＶ）ａＧ株的糖蛋白（ＧＰ）进行表达和纯化。构建的融合表达载体ｐＥＴ－ａＧ１和ｐＥＴ－ａＧ２（－５７ｂｐ）分别含有ＲＶａＧ株ＧＰ基因的全序列及删除了为ＧＰ信号肽编码的５８个碱基的序列。用ＳＤＳ 聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、免疫印迹、间接ＥＬＩＳＡ检测都证明表达产物为ＲＶＧＰ,且位于菌体中的包涵体内。经固定化金属螯合层析（ＩＭＡＣ）提纯,ｐＥＴ－ａＧ１表达产物有较高的特异性和纯度,可用作测定ＲＶＧＰ抗体的免疫诊断试剂。     

反义癌基因c－jun对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

构建可表达原癌基因ｃ－ｊｕｎ正义和反义ＲＮＡ的真核细胞表达载体,将其导入体外培养的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）后,经Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ分析证实,两种插入方向的ｃｊｕｎ基因均在ＶＳＭＣ中大量表达;￣３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入实验表明,ｃ－ｊｕｎ反义ＲＮＡ对ＶＳＭＣ的增殖具有显著抑制作用．提示用反义核酸抑制ｃ－ｊｕｎ表达对治疗某些由于ＶＳＭＣ增殖所引起的心血管病可能具有一定意义．     

IL-6 and lipoprotein(a) [LP(a)] concentrations are related only in patients with high APO(a) isoforms in monoclonal gammopathy

We have investigated the influence of apo(a) genetics on the relationship between interleukin (IL)-6, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels in 154 patients with monoclonal gammopathy and 189 healthy subjects. No significant differences in Lp(a) levels and distribution of subjects with different sizes of apo(a) isoforms were found between patients and healthy controls. Relationship between IL-6 and Lp(a) levels was strongly dependent on the size of apo(a) isoforms. In patients with high-size apo(a) isoforms Lp(a) levels positively correlated (r=0.475, P=0.0007) to IL-6 concentrations, whereas no correlation was found in patients with low apo(a) isoforms. Our present finding may provide a plausible explanation for the contradictory findings about the acute phase protein nature of Lp(a).     

Lipoprotein[a] is the major apoB-containing lipoprotein in the plasma of a hibernator, the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

We have undertaken studies aimed at elucidating the interrelationships existing between the seasonal modifications in endocrine status (already demonstrated by Saboureau, M., and J. Boissin. 1978. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 286D: 1479-1482) and plasma lipoprotein metabolism in the male hedgehog. During the course of these studies, we discovered that a lipoprotein comparable to human Lp[a] was a prominent component of the plasma lipoprotein spectrum in the hedgehog. This lipoprotein was present in the 1.040-1.100 g/ml density range (approximately), exhibited pre beta mobility upon agarose gel electrophoresis, and its Stokes diameter was 275 A. Its apolipoprotein moiety consisted of two proteins with molecular weights and amino acid compositions similar to those of human apoB-100 and apo[a], respectively. These two apolipoproteins were present in hedgehog Lp[a] as a complex that could be dissociated using dithiothreitol and whose stoichiometry could be 1:1. Lp[a] polymorphism due to size heterogeneity of apo[a] appeared to be present in the hedgehog as in man. The chemical composition of hedgehog Lp[a], obtained from animals bled during spring and summer, differed from that of its human counterpart in that the proportion of triglycerides was approximately three times higher in the hedgehog particle (13% vs. 4%), to the detriment of cholesteryl esters. Dissociation of the apoB:apo[a] complex has allowed us to obtain Lp[a] devoid of its specific polypeptide (Lp[a-]), a particle that retained the characteristics of Lp[a] as regards its lipid composition but whose Stokes diameter decreased by 30 to 40 A. The plasma concentration of LDL particles, defined as lipoproteins containing apoB-100 as their sole apolipoprotein constituent, was considerably lower than that of Lp[a]. These findings suggest that the hedgehog could be a unique animal model for studies regarding Lp[a] metabolism.     

A two-step mechanism for free cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from human vascular cells to apolipoprotein A-1

Smooth muscle and endothelial cells in vivo are quiescent yet exposed to high levels of lipoprotein lipids. Phospholipid (PL) and free cholesterol (FC) efflux maintain homeostasis. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) expressed high levels of ABC-1 transporter mRNA, and glyburide-dependent PL and FC efflux to apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-1), the major protein of high-density lipoprotein. FC efflux was inhibited by vanadate and okadaic acid, while PL efflux was not. Phosphatidylcholine was the major PL transferred by both cell types. Stimulation of phosphatidylserine efflux, redistributed within the membrane by this transporter, was only minimally increased. Umbilical vein and aortic endothelial cells expressed little ABC-1 mRNA, nor did these cells promote either PL or FC efflux in response to the presence of apo A-1. To investigate the mechanism of ABC-1-dependent lipid efflux from these cells, apo A-1 was preincubated in the presence of unlabeled SMC or fibroblasts, and the conditioned medium was then transferred to endothelial cells. This medium catalyzed the efflux of FC but not of PL from endothelial cells. Such FC efflux was resistant to glyburide but inhibited by okadaic acid and vanadate. The data suggest that ABC-1-dependent PL efflux precedes FC efflux to apo A-1 and that the complex of apo A-1 and PL is a much better acceptor of FC than apo A-1 itself. Inhibition of FC but not PL efflux by vanadate and okadaic acid suggests these transfers involve different mechanisms.     

Inhibition of plasminogen activation by apo(a): role of carboxyl-terminal lysines and identification of inhibitory domains in apo(a)

Apo(a), the distinguishing protein component of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], exhibits sequence similarity to plasminogen and can inhibit binding of plasminogen to cell surfaces. Plasmin generated on the surface of vascular cells plays a role in cell migration and proliferation, two of the fibroproliferative inflammatory events that underlie atherosclerosis. The ability of apo(a) to inhibit pericellular plasminogen activation on vascular cells was therefore evaluated. Two isoforms of apo(a), 12K and 17K, were found to significantly decrease tissue-type plasminogen activator-mediated plasminogen activation on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and THP-1 monocytes and macrophages. Lp(a) purified from human plasma decreased plasminogen activation on THP-1 monocytes and HUVECs but not on THP-1 macrophages. Removal of kringle V or the strong lysine binding site in kringle IV₁₀ completely abolished the inhibitory effect of apo(a). Treatment with carboxypeptidase B to assess the roles of carboxyl-terminal lysines in cellular receptors leads in most cases to decreases in plasminogen activation as well as plasminogen and apo(a) binding; however, inhibition of plasminogen activation by apo(a) was unaffected. Our findings directly demonstrate that apo(a) inhibits pericellular plasminogen activation in all three cell types, although binding of apo(a) to cell-surface receptors containing carboxyl-terminal lysines does not appear to play a major role in the inhibition mechanism.     

Synthesis of light-activated antisense oligodeoxynucleotide

The activity of a 20-mer antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (asODN) is transiently blocked by attaching a partially complementary sense strand (sODN) via a heterobifunctional photocleavable linker (PL). The asODN-PL-sODN conjugate forms a DNA hairpin-like structure that is considerably more stable than the corresponding asODN/sODN duplex. In conjugate form, the asODN is prevented from hybridizing to exogenous RNA or DNA molecules. Activity is restored after modest exposure to UV light (lambda approximately 365 nm). Here, we provide a detailed procedure for synthesizing photoactive asODNs in good yields. Synthesis, purification and analysis of the light-activated asODN can be completed within 1-2 weeks.     

A role for apolipoprotein(a) in protection of the low-density lipoprotein component of lipoprotein(a) from copper-mediated oxidation

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation is stimulated by copper. Addition of a recombinant form of apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a); the distinguishing protein component of lipoprotein(a)) containing 17 plasminogen kringle IV-like domains (17K r-apo(a)) protects LDL against oxidation by copper. Protection is specific to apo(a) and is not achieved by plasminogen or serum albumin. When Cu(2+) is added to 17K r-apo(a), its intrinsic fluorescence is quenched in a concentration-dependent and saturable manner. Quenching is unchanged whether performed aerobically or anaerobically and is reversible by ethylenediaminetetraacetate, suggesting that it is due to equilibrium binding of Cu(2+) and not to oxidative destruction of tryptophan residues. The fluorescence change exhibits a sigmoid dependence on copper concentration, and time courses of quenching are complex. At copper concentrations below 10 microM there is little quenching, whereas above 10 microM quenching proceeds immediately as a double-exponential decay. The affinity and kinetics of copper binding to 17K r-apo(a) are diminished in the presence of the lysine analogue epsilon -aminocaproic acid. We propose that copper binding to the kringle domains of 17K is mediated by a His-X-His sequence that is located about 5A from the closest tryptophan residue of the lysine binding pocket. Copper binding may account for the natural resistance to copper-mediated oxidation of lipoprotein(a) relative to LDL that has been previously reported and for the protection afforded by apo(a) from copper-mediated oxidation of LDL that we describe in the present study.     

Association between Low‐Molecular Weight Apolipoprotein(a) Isoforms and Obesity in Italian Women

Objective: Low‐molecular weight (MW) apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoforms are closely associated with an increased incidence of atherothrombotic disease, prevalence of which is higher in obese individuals, particularly in women. The hypothesis of this study was to assess whether there are differences in the distribution of apo(a) phenotypes between obese patients and healthy controls. Research Methods and Procedures: One hundred three obese Italian women (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m²) were enrolled in the study, and apo(a) phenotyping was performed in all subjects. The prevalence of low‐MW apo(a) isoforms, detected in plasma samples of our obese women, was compared with that found in a control group of 84 normal‐weight, never‐obese (BMI < 25.0 kg/m²), age‐matched women. Results: The distribution of apo(a) isoforms in the population of obese women was significantly different from that found in normal‐weight female subjects. In particular, the percentage of subjects in the obese group with at least one apo(a) isoform of low MW was significantly higher than that in the control group (51.4% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.0079). Discussion: Our results seem to suggest the possibility that small‐sized apo(a) isoforms may be used together with other traditional risk factors to better assess the overall predisposition to atherothrombotic disease in obese women.     

Characterization of monoclonal anti-rabbit apolipoprotein E antibodies and chemical composition of lipoproteins separated by anti-apolipoprotein E immuno-affinity chromatography

Six mouse monoclonal antibodies against rabbit apolipoprotein E (apo E) have been developed. Of these monoclonal antibodies, clone 5 revealed a high affinity for purified apo E, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and beta-VLDL. This monoclonal antibody was used to prepare an immunoaffinity column. Coupled to Sepharose 4B, this antibody allowed complete removal of lipoproteins containing apo E from plasma of New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits; 62, 46, 14, and 3% of VLDL-, IDL-, LDL-, and HDL-protein, respectively, were bound to the anti-apo E affinity column. The bound VLDL was significantly rich in free cholesterol (FC) and cholesteryl esters (CE) relative to the unbound VLDL, whereas bound IDL, LDL and HDL were significantly rich in FC only. All of the bound fractions were characterized by significantly increased ratios of FC/phospholipids (PL). These results indicate that the two lipoprotein populations with and without apo E have different lipid compositions. The relatively high content of cholesterol in lipoproteins containing apo E suggests a contribution of apo E to plasma cholesterol transport.