Modulating cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity maintains efficient pre-��-HDL formation and increases reverse cholesterol transport

The mechanism by which cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity affects HDL metabolism was investigated using agents that selectively target CETP (dalcetrapib, torcetrapib, anacetrapib). In contrast with torcetrapib and anacetrapib, dalcetrapib requires cysteine 13 to decrease CETP activity, measured as transfer of cholesteryl ester (CE) from HDL to LDL, and does not affect transfer of CE from HDL3 to HDL2. Only dalcetrapib induced a conformational change in CETP, when added to human plasma in vitro, also observed in vivo and correlated with CETP activity. CETP-induced pre-β-HDL formation in vitro in human plasma was unchanged by dalcetrapib ≤3 µM and increased at 10 µM. A dose-dependent inhibition of pre-β-HDL formation by torcetrapib and anacetrapib (0.1 to 10 µM) suggested that dalcetrapib modulates CETP activity. In hamsters injected with [³H]cholesterol-labeled autologous macrophages, and given dalcetrapib (100 mg twice daily), torcetrapib [30 mg once daily (QD)], or anacetrapib (30 mg QD), only dalcetrapib significantly increased fecal elimination of both [³H]neutral sterols and [³H]bile acids, whereas all compounds increased plasma HDL-[³H]cholesterol. These data suggest that modulation of CETP activity by dalcetrapib does not inhibit CETP-induced pre-β-HDL formation, which may be required to increase reverse cholesterol transport.     

In vivo effects of anacetrapib on preβ HDL: improvement in HDL remodeling without effects on cholesterol absorption

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transfers cholesteryl ester and triglyceride between HDL and apoB-containing lipoproteins. Anacetrapib (ANA), a reversible inhibitor of CETP, raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol in dyslipidemic patients. We previously demonstrated that ANA increases macrophage-to-feces reverse cholesterol transport and fecal cholesterol excretion in hamsters, and increased preβ HDL-dependent cholesterol efflux via ABCA1 in vitro. However, the effects of ANA on in vivo preβ HDL have not been characterized. In vitro, ANA inhibited the formation of preβ, however in ANA-treated dyslipidemic hamsters, preβ HDL levels (measured by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) were increased, in contrast to in vitro findings. Because changes in plasma preβ HDL have been proposed to potentially affect markers of cholesterol absorption with other CETP inhibitors, a dual stable isotope method was used to directly measure cholesterol absorption in hamsters. ANA treatment of hamsters (on either dyslipidemic or normal diet) had no effect on cholesterol absorption, while dalcetrapib-treated hamsters displayed an increase in cholesterol absorption. Taken together, these data support the notion that ANA promotes preβ HDL functionality in vivo, with no effects on cholesterol absorption.     

脂蛋白酯酶在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中的作用

脂蛋白酯酶(lipoprotein lipase, LPL)是调节甘油三酯代谢的关键酶,在动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,As)的发生发展中起重要作用。LPL产生部位的差异决定了其具有促As作用还是抗As作用。其次,不同因素对LPL的调控也会使LPL对As产生相反的作用效果。本文综述了LPL在As发生发展中的作用机制以及不同因素对LPL的调控机制,对于As的防治具有重要意义。     

Determination of lipoprotein lipase activity using a novel fluorescent lipase assay

A novel, real-time, homogeneous fluorogenic lipoprotein lipase (LPL) assay was developed using a commercially available substrate, the EnzChek lipase substrate, which is solubilized in Zwittergent. The triglyceride analog substrate does not fluoresce, owing to apposition of fluorescent and fluorescent quenching groups at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, respectively, fluorescence becoming unquenched upon release of the sn-1 BODIPY FA derivative following hydrolysis. Increase in fluorescence intensity at 37°C was proportional to LPL concentration. The assay was more sensitive than a similar assay using 1,2-O-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6-methylresorufin ester) and was validated in biological samples, including determination of LPL-specific activity in postheparin mouse plasma. The simplicity and reproducibility of the assay make it ideal for in vitro, high-throughput screening for inhibitors and activators of LPL, thus expediting discovery of drugs of potential clinical value.     

Diacylglycerol acyl transferase 1 overexpression detoxifies cardiac lipids in PPARγ transgenic mice

Accumulation of excess lipids is associated with heart failure. The effects of transgenic expression of diacylglycerol acyl transferase 1 (DGAT1) in cardiomyocytes is controversial. We explored whether mice expressing DGAT1 via the myosin heavy chain (MHC) promoter develop heart dysfunction with aging or after crossing with mice over expressing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in the heart. MHC-DGAT1 transgenic mice had increased heart triglyceride but no evidence of heart dysfunction, even up to age 12 months. The MHC-DGAT1 transgene improved heart dysfunction and survival of MHC-PPARγ-expressing transgenic mice. Both diacylglycerol and ceramide levels in the heart were reduced by this cross, as were the levels of several mRNAs of genes involved in lipid metabolism. There were fewer large lipid droplets in MHC-DGAT1×MHC-PPARγ mice compared with MHC-PPARγ, but total lipid content was not changed. Therefore, overexpression of DGAT1 is not toxic to the heart but reduces levels of toxic lipids and improves lipotoxic cardiomyopathy. Moreover, the beneficial effects of DGAT1 illustrate the interrelationship of several lipid metabolic pathways and the difficulty of assigning benefit to an isolated change in one potentially toxic lipid species.     

Prenatal stress programs lipid metabolism enhancing cardiovascular risk in the female F1, F2, and F3 generation in the primate model common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Background Many human diseases are modulated by intrauterine environment, which is called prenatal programming. This study investigated effects of prenatal glucocorticoids on the lipid metabolism of three filial generations of common marmosets. Methods Pregnant primates were treated with dexamethasone during pregnancy. Body weight and blood lipid parameters of adult female offspring (F1: n = 5, F2: n = 6, F3: n = 3) were compared with age‐related female controls (n = 12). Results F1, F2, and F3 offspring showed significantly lower percentage of plasma n3 fatty acids than controls. F2 and F3 presented higher cholesterol levels, with significantly more LDL cholesterol, significantly less HDL triglycerides and an enhanced cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio. Body weight was not significantly affected. Conclusions Prenatal dexamethasone led to higher amounts of cardiovascular risk factors and less protective parameters in female F1–F3 offspring. The intergenerational consequences suggest prenatal programming through epigenetic effects.     

降胆固醇微生态制剂对大鼠高血脂的影响

应用从鱼体内自行分离的一株细菌,以高脂大白鼠为实验模型,研究投喂不同浓度的该活菌制剂(5×10     

Solid State 13C-NMR Analysis of Cell Wall Components of Fusarium oxysporum

An abdominal fat accumulation complicated by high blood triglycerides is regarded as a risk factor of metabolic syndrome. Feeding powdered nacre, mother of pearl, from Pinctada maxima, resulted in reduced body weight, visceral fat amount, and blood triglyceride level without influencing the food intake, body length, or amount of muscular tissue, suggesting that nacre powder specifically could decrease visceral fat.     

肠球菌生态制剂对人血清胆固醇水平作用的初步探讨

自健康人肠道分离出一株肠球菌菌株DM 891129,经体外及动物实验证明具有降低血清胆固醇水平的作用。本制剂在动物实验证明安全可靠,在少数志愿者口服后,未见任何不良反应;对正常血清胆固醇水平无影响,对高胆固醇血症者血胆固醇水平有降低作用,作用强度呈用药依赖性及剂量依赖性。该制剂对甘油三酯水平作用不明显,其作用机制尚需进一步探讨。     

Monotopic topology is required for lipid droplet targeting of ancient ubiquitous protein 1

Ancient ubiquitous protein 1 (AUP1) is a multifunctional protein, which acts on both lipid droplets (LDs) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Double localization to these two organelles, featuring very different membrane characteristics, was observed also for several other integral proteins, but little is known about the signals and mechanisms behind dual protein targeting to ER and LDs. Here we dissect the AUP1 targeting signals by analyses of localization and topology of several deletion and point mutants. We found that AUP1 is inserted into the membrane of the ER in a monotopic hairpin fashion, and subsequently transported to the hemi-membrane of LDs. A single domain localized in the N-terminal part of AUP1 enables its ER residence, the monotopic insertion, and the LD localization. Different specific residues within this multifunctional domain are responsible for achieving the complex spatial distribution pattern. A mutation of three amino acids, which changes AUP1 topology from hairpin to transmembrane, abolishes LD localization. These findings suggest that the cell is able to target a protein to multiple intracellular locations using a single domain.