Kinetic properties of blood plasma lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase in persons with hyper-alpha-lipoproteinemia

A study was made of the kinetics of the lecithin-cholesterol-acyltransferase reaction (LCAT-reaction) according to the substrate, nonesterified cholesterol of high density lipoproteins (HDLP) and of the effect produced by the medium pH and apoprotein E (apo-E) on the rate of the LCAT-reaction in blood plasma of subjects with hyper-alpha-lipoproteinemia. HDLP isolated from blood plasma of subjects with hyper-alpha-lipoproteinemia were used as substrate. Infranatants obtained from blood plasma of the test subjects after removing all lipoproteins with a density of 1.21 g/ml served as a source of the enzyme. The kinetic curve of the rate of the LCAT-reaction with one or two plateaus was found to be complex in nature; pH 7.4 and 8.0 were found to be optimal for the LCAT-reaction at high and low concentrations of HDLP, respectively. At a low HDLP concentration apo-E had no remarkable effect on the rate of the LCAT-reaction, while at a high HDLP concentration the rate of the LCAT-reaction was increased. It is assumed that more than two isoforms of LCAT are present in blood plasma of subjects with hyper-alpha-lipoproteinemia.     

Penetration of lipoproteins through a capillary wall and their effects on the cardiomyocyte ultrastructure during in vitro heart perfusion

The colloidal gold-labeled lipoprotein (LP) distribution in the myocardium after the 30 min perfusion of isolated working rat heart was studied by electron microscopy. LP of physiological concentrations are shown to be able to interact with the capillary wall and they can be incorporated by endotheliocytes. The velocity and transportation mechanisms of different classes of LP differ. Very low density LP are the most intensively taken up, low density LP enter into interstitium more rapidly than others, high density LP do not leave the capillary wall at all. The passages of labeled LP through endotheliocytes by the receptor-mediated as well as the non-receptor manners are revealed. The transportation through the widened intercellular junctions may be supposed for low density LP. For the fist time LP addendum into the perfusion medium was shown to provoke the activation of interstitial macrophages. During the perfusion duration they take inside and accumulate labeled very low density LP and low density LP in their lysosomes. The internalization may be performed by the specific endocytosis or by the simple phagocytosis. The qualitative and morphometrical analyses show that LP preserve the capillary and cardiomyocyte ultrastructure from perfusion injuries. One may suppose that there are interrelations between the capillary endothelium, the interstitial macrophages and the parenchymal cells in myocardium for realization of plasma LP effects.     

Characterization of High Density Lipophorin (HDLP) Receptor from the Fat Body of Galleria mellonella by Ligand Blot Analysis

ABSTRACT To identify and characterize the HDLP (high density lipophorin) receptor from Galleria mellonella (LPR_Gm), we used techniques of ligand blotting. This method was, to our knowledge, firstly used to characterize the lipophorin receptor (LPR) in insect. LPR_gm had the approximate molecular weight of 100 kDa under non-reducing conditions and bound the HDLP very rapidly and specifically. The receptor had an absolute requirement of Ca²⁺ but exceeding concentration of Ca²⁺ has shown some inhibitory effect, and this result was supported by the effect of EDTA, here used for Ca²⁺ chelating reagent. LPR_Gm has the high binding affinity to HDLP and its binding with HDLP was rapid and specific. Suramin (polysulfated polycyclic hydrocarbon) effectively inhibited the LPR_Gm and HDLP binding. LPR_Gm showed the stage specific binding activity especially in day 1-3 last instar larval, prepupal, and adult stages.     

Characterization of steroid hormone association with human plasma lipoproteins

Partition coefficient analysis, equilibrium dialysis, and computer simulation were used to evaluate associations of twelve steroid hormones (androstanediol, androstenediol, androstenedione, androsterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, estriol, estrone, hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, and testosterone) with human plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). It was determined that partitioning of steroid hormones (SH) between the aqueous medium and the surfaces of lipoproteins (LP) was the initial (first order) SH-LP interaction. For some SH, especially dehydroepiandrosterone, significant second order interactions, which may involve chemical conversions, were detected. The first order binding values of the twelve SH with three LP were combined with the corresponding binding values of SH with sex hormone-binding globulin, corticosteroid-binding globulin, and albumin in a 6 X 12 matrix. The computer program TRANSPORT was used to analyze the matrix and determine the distribution of each SH among six different binding agents in the "normal" male. It was concluded that LP are important vehicles for SH conveyance in plasma and may also be important for SH entry into cells.     

Benzo[a]pyrene uptake by serum lipids: correlation with triglyceride concentration

An in vitro study of the relationship between benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) association with serum lipoproteins (LP) and LP composition was conducted using human subjects. BaP partitioning into different serum LP ranged from 53 to 71% of available BaP. Efficiency of BaP partitioning was examined for the relationship with lipid components of different sera. The data indicate that triglyceride (TG) concentrations were more directly correlated with BaP uptake than were concentrations of other LP components. Adjusting sera to a uniform TG concentration (96.5 mg/dl) resulted in the same BaP uptake for each serum type, while adjusting sera to contain a uniform cholesteryl ester concentration (104.6 mg/dl) did not result in similar BaP uptake among serum types. Analysis of serum LP composition suggested that marked differences in both BaP uptake and serum TG concentrations among the subjects were due mainly to differences in serum very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations. A correlation study using 14 human subjects showed that serum TG concentration was the best predictor (r = 0.973, P less than 0.001) for BaP uptake by serum, followed by phospholipid (r = 0.658, P less than 0.01) and total cholesterol (r = 0.514, P less than 0.05) concentrations. The results indicate that serum TG concentration (typically VLDL-TG) may be the primary factor affecting BaP uptake by serum LP, and suggest that a small change in serum TG concentration could cause a significant increase in BaP uptake by serum LP, contributing to an increased level of circulating carcinogen.     

Sex and age alter plasma membranes of cultured fibroblasts

Human skin fibroblasts were taken from age-matched male and female subjects. The cells were then cultured under identical conditions and passage-number matched. Plasma membranes were isolated and membrane enzyme activities, lipid composition, and structure of isolated plasma membranes were measured in order to determine the presence of significant sex differences in human fibroblast membrane properties. The results indicated that plasma membranes from normal female subjects had a 1.6-fold and 3.6-fold higher cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and oleic acid (18:2) content than normal male subjects. The limiting anisotropy and the rotational relaxation time of fluorescence probe molecules such as trans-parinaric acid and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene in the plasma membranes was not significantly different from fibroblasts of male versus female normal subjects. The total activity of plasma membrane (Na+, K+)-ATPase was significantly higher in female than male normal subjects. A potential 'membrane structural disorder', Huntington's disease, was confirmed in fibroblast membranes from male but not from female Huntington's disease subjects. The possibility that Huntington's disease was a 'premature membrane aging' phenomenon was considered. A comparison of plasma membrane enzymes, lipids, and structure from old and young Huntington's disease subjects did not show differences consistent with accelerated membrane aging as explaining the molecular basis for the disease. The age-dependent differences noted in aged Huntington's disease subjects: increased phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio and sphingomyelin + lysophosphatidylcholine content of fibroblast plasma membranes were not significantly altered when compared to normal age-matched controls. However, (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity was significantly enhanced in fibroblast plasma membranes of older Huntington's disease subjects unlike those of control subjects. In conclusion, sex and age differences in membrane properties of cultured cells represent important potential variables in the elucidation of human genetic disorders that may be membrane-related.     

Physico-chemical properties of low density lipoproteins isolated in an equilibrium density gradient

The tryptophanyls of total low density lipoproteins (LDL) (1.006-1.063 g/ml) from coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and subjects without CHD signs had different accessibility to fluorescence quenchers (I-and acrylamide). LDL were separated into subfractions in equilibrium density gradient. The coefficient of extinction , quantum yield and other spectral characteristics of LDL intrinsic fluorescence, rotational mobility of maleimide spin labels and fatty acid spin probe were different in LDL subfractions from healthy subjects. LDL subfractions with hydrated density 1.045-1.05 g/ml bound to B,E-receptors of cultured fibroblasts more effectively than did subfractions with density 1.01-1.03 g/ml. Structural differences of apo-B in the particles with different lipid to protein ratio are supposed.     

A new spectrofluorimetric method for determination of losartan potassium in rabbit plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study

A new spectrofluorimetric method to determine losartan potassium (LP) in rabbit plasma is described. The method was based on measuring the native fluorescence of LP in acidic medium. Optimum excitation and emission wavelengths were found to be 248 nm and 410 nm, respectively, in methanol that was diluted with a sulfurous acid solution LP was extracted from rabbit plasma by methyl‐tertiary‐butyl‐ether in acidic media and then back extracted with NaOH. The calibration curves were linear between 0.025 and 0.5 µg/mL with a lower limit of detection 0.004 µg/mL. Precision and accuracy values of the method were calculated as lower than 4.97% and ± 5.68, respectively and the recovery of LP from rabbit plasma was higher than 91.1%. In addition, stability studies of LP in rabbit plasma were carried out and demonstrated its good stability at − 20 °C and at room temperature. The developed and validated method was successfully applied for estimating the pharmacokinetic parameters of LP following oral administrations of a single 10 mg LP/kg to rabbits and it could be concluded that the method can be applied to clinical trials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intrauterine growth retarded progeny of pregnant sows fed high protein:low carbohydrate diet is related to metabolic energy deficit

High and low protein diets fed to pregnant adolescent sows led to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). To explore underlying mechanisms, sow plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations were analyzed during different pregnancy stages and correlated with litter weight (LW) at birth, sow body weight and back fat thickness. Sows were fed diets with low (6.5%, LP), adequate (12.1%, AP), and high (30%, HP) protein levels, made isoenergetic by adjusted carbohydrate content. At -5, 24, 66, and 108 days post coitum (dpc) fasted blood was collected. At 92 dpc, diurnal metabolic profiles were determined. Fasted serum urea and plasma glucagon were higher due to the HP diet. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), %HDLC and cortisol were reduced in HP compared with AP sows. Lowest concentrations were observed for serum urea and protein, plasma insulin-like growth factor-I, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and progesterone in LP compared with AP and HP sows. Fasted plasma glucose, insulin and leptin concentrations were unchanged. Diurnal metabolic profiles showed lower glucose in HP sows whereas non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations were higher in HP compared with AP and LP sows. In HP and LP sows, urea concentrations were 300% and 60% of AP sows, respectively. Plasma total cholesterol was higher in LP than in AP and HP sows. In AP sows, LW correlated positively with insulin and insulin/glucose and negatively with glucagon/insulin at 66 dpc, whereas in HP sows LW associated positively with NEFA. In conclusion, IUGR in sows fed high protein:low carbohydrate diet was probably due to glucose and energy deficit whereas in sows with low protein:high carbohydrate diet it was possibly a response to a deficit of indispensable amino acids which impaired lipoprotein metabolism and favored maternal lipid disposal.     

Thermotropic structural rearrangements in blood plasma lipoproteins in ischemic heart disease

Structural properties of blood plasma lipoproteins (LP) from coronary heart disease (CHD) patients were examined. Substantial differences were found in the pattern of the heat-induced structural restitution of LP of all classes in health and disease. At the same time no such differences were discovered in lipids isolated from LP. In high density lipoproteins from the plasma of CHD patients, a decrease in the microenvironmental polarity was shown to take place at a depth of 8 A from the surface of LP. The data obtained indicate substantial changes in the structural organization of LP of all classes in CHD. It is assumed that these changes are consequent on the modification of apoproteins and/or protein-lipid interactions in LP.     

Cellular and biochemical characteristics of semen obtained from pubertal chimpanzees by masturbation

Semen characteristics were studied in 6 wild-born chimpanzees with dental ages ranging approximately from 6 to 12 years. The animals formed 2 groups, early pubertal (EP, N = 3, 6-9 years) and late pubertal (LP, N = 3, 11-12 years). Mean body weight, testicular volume and serum androgen concentration were significantly lower in Group EP (32.2 +/- 1.6 kg, 34.0 +/- 7.7 cm3, 2.1 +/- 0.1 ng/ml) than in Group LP (55.7 +/- 5.7 kg, P less than 0.01; 100.5 +/- 11.9 cm3, P less than 0.01; 3.6 +/- 0.7 ng/ml, P less than 0.05). Ejaculates were obtained by masturbation in all subjects. The mean ejaculate volume was lower in Group EP (0.56 +/- 0.20 ml) than in Group LP (3.77 +/- 0.73 ml, P less than 0.01). In Group EP, 2 animals were azoospermic while the third produced semen with means of 57.1 x 10(6) spermatozoa per ml, 20% motility and 40% vitality. These values were low when compared with the mean values of Group LP (376 x 10(6) spermatozoa per ml, 67% motility and 78% vitality). Mean total sperm count was correlated with testicular volume (r = 0.84) and serum androgen concentration (r = 0.96). The mean concentrations of L-carnitine, fructose, citrate and acid phosphatase for the two groups were not significantly different; but, related to the differences in ejaculate volumes, their total amounts in total ejaculate were lower in Group EP than in Group LP. These results suggest that, in chimpanzees, mechanisms of seminal plasma production and ejaculation are functional early in the reproductive life and that the emission of spermatozoa occurs later.     

The role of epsilon 2/epsilon 3/epsilon 4 polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E gene in the development of dislipoproteinemia and its influence on the efficacy of the hypolipidemic therapy

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoforms have different affinity to lipoprotein (LP) receptors and lipids. In comparison with the "normal" apoE3 the apoE2 affinity to receptors is strictly decreased influencing its association with hypoholesterolemia and accumulation of LP of very-low density in the plasma. The apoE4 is characterized by the increased affinity to LP receptors and is associated with hyperholesterolemia (HCHL). In the homozygotes on allele E2 the gender, age, obesity, diabetes and some other factors have an influence on conversion of hypoholesterolemia to type Ill hyperlipidemia. The ApoE4 association with HCHL may be due to its impaired recycling in hepatocytes. The ApoE isoforms influence the hypolipidemic therapy efficacy: statins and physical training were more effective in epsilon2 allele carriers and probucol and low-fat diet had the maximal effect in epsilon4 allele carriers.     

The level of dietary protein and carbohydrate has a different effect on intestinal uptake of hexoses and lipids in rabbits with an ileal resection than in those with an intact intestinal tract

Either high protein, low carbohydrate (HP) or low protein, high carbohydrate (LP) diets were fed for 6 weeks to rabbits with or without resection of the distal half of the small intestine. Control and resected rabbits fed HP consumed more food and gained more weight than the animals fed LP. The level of dietary protein has a different effect on intestinal transport in animals with an ileal resection than in those with an intact small intestine. With 0.5 mM glucose, the in vitro uptake in control rabbits was greater for the LP than HP diet but was unchanged in resected rabbits; uptake of 0.5 mM galactose and 3-O-methyl glucose was unaffected by HP and LP, whereas in rabbit uptake was lower in LP than HP. The uptake of 40 mM glucose was greater with the LP than HP diet in control rabbits, but lower with LP than HP in resected rabbits. In control rabbits, the uptake of aluric acid was lower on the LP than HP diet; the uptake of octanoic acid, decanoic acid, and cholesterol was unchanged; and the uptake of each fatty acid and cholesterol was greater in resected rabbits fed LP than HP. Feeding a low protein diet to animals with an ileal resection is associated with lower jejunal uptake of high concentrations of glucose, but the higher uptake of galactose and enhanced permeability to fatty acids result in superior weight gain. Thus, recommendations for alterations in dietary protein and carbohydrate levels following ileal resection must be made with the knowledge that these changes may influence intestinal transport function as well as body weight gain.     

Free radical lipid oxidation affects cholesterol transfer between lipoproteins and erythrocytes

Human erythrocytes were incubated for 5 h at 37 degrees C with lipoproteins (LP), preliminary oxidized to different extent, as assessed by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test. Cholesterol content in the cells was increased by 12-14% after incubation with low-density lipoproteins (LDL) along with augmentation of order parameter and rotational correlation time of spin-labeled stearic acids incorporated into membranes. If erythrocytes were incubated with oxidized LDL, containing 2.5-4 times more TBA-reactive material than native ones, cellular content of cholesterol was increased by 24-28%. In contrast, high-density lipoproteins (HDL2 and HDL3) removed cholesterol from cell membranes, when incubated with erythrocytes. This was followed by increased fluidity of membrane lipid phase as detected by the spin probe method. Oxidation of HDL2 and HDL3 decreased their ability to accept cholesterol from cell membranes. No detectable accumulation of TBA-reactive material was observed in the samples during the incubation. The antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), in the concentration of 10(-5) M did not influence the cholesterol transfer between LP and erythrocytes. Hence, the effects of lipid peroxidation (LPO) on the cholesterol transfer seem to result from LP alterations by oxidation rather than from free radical reactions occurring during the incubation. By increasing cholesterol-donating ability of LDL and inhibition of cholesterol-accepting capacity of HDL lipid peroxidation in LP may activate cholesterol accumulation in blood vessel cells and thus contribute to atherosclerosis.     

Physicochemical analysis of phasic menstrual cycle effects on acid-base balance

In accordance with Stewart's physicochemical approach, the three independent determinants of plasma hydrogen ion concentration ([H(+)]) were measured at rest and during exercise in the follicular (FP) and luteal phase (LP) of the human menstrual cycle. Healthy, physically active women with similar physical characteristics were tested during either the FP (n = 14) or LP (n = 14). Arterialized blood samples were obtained at rest and after 5 min of upright cycling at both 70 and 110% of the ventilatory threshold (T(Vent)). Measurements included plasma [H(+)], arterial carbon dioxide tension (Pa(CO(2))), total weak acid ([A(Tot)]) as reflected by total protein, and the strong-ion difference ([SID]). The transition from rest to exercise in both groups resulted in a significant increase in [H(+)] at 70% T(Vent) versus rest and at 110% T(Vent) versus both rest and 70% T(Vent). No significant between-group differences were observed for [H(+)] at rest or in response to exercise. At rest in the LP, [A(Tot)] and Pa(CO(2)) were significantly lower (acts to decrease [H(+)]) compared with the FP. This effect was offset by a reduction in [SID] (acts to increase [H(+)]). After the transition from rest to exercise, significantly lower [A(Tot)] during the LP was again observed. Although the [SID] and Pa(CO(2)) were not significantly different between groups, trends for changes in these two variables were similar to changes in the resting state. In conclusion, mechanisms regulating [H(+)] exhibit phase-related differences to ensure [H(+)] is relatively constant regardless of progesterone-mediated ventilatory changes during the LP.     

Advantages and limitation of BODIPY as a probe for the evaluation of lipid peroxidation and its inhibition by antioxidants in plasma

Oxidative stress and the role of antioxidants are currently one of the most important subjects in the field of life science. In the present study, we assessed the oxidation of plasma lipids induced by free radicals and its inhibition by antioxidants with a fluorescence probe BODIPY. Vitamin E and C-depleted plasma was used to evaluate the inherent action of several antioxidants. BODIPY reacted with free radicals in plasma to emit fluorescence (ex. 510 nm, em. 520 nm), which was suppressed by the antioxidants in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the suppression of fluorescence emission by antioxidants did not always correlate quantitatively with the suppression of lipid peroxidation. For example, alpha-tocopherol suppressed BODIPY fluorescence but enhanced the peroxidation of plasma lipids in the absence of ascorbic acid. 2,2,5,7,8-Pentamethyl-6-chromanol, a vitamin E analogue without a phytyl side chain, almost completely suppressed both fluorescence emission and lipid peroxidation in the plasma. These results show that BODIPY can be used as a convenient probe for radical scavenging, but that care should be taken for the evaluation of antioxidant capacity.     

Determination of plasma density from data on the ion current to cylindrical and planar probes

To improve probe methods of plasma diagnostics, special probe measurements were performed and numerical models describing ion transport to a probe with allowance for collisions were developed. The current–voltage characteristics of cylindrical and planar probes were measured in an RF capacitive discharge in argon at a frequency of 81 MHz and plasma densities of 10¹⁰–10¹¹ cm^–3, typical of modern RF reactors. 1D and 2D numerical models based on the particle-in-cell method with Monte Carlo collisions for simulating ion motion and the Boltzmann equilibrium for electrons are developed to describe current collection by a probe. The models were used to find the plasma density from the ion part of the current–voltage characteristic, study the effect of ion collisions, and verify simplified approaches to determining the plasma density. A 1D hydrodynamic model of the ion current to a cylindrical probe with allowance for ion collisions is proposed. For a planar probe, a method to determine the plasma density from the averaged numerical results is developed. A comparative analysis of different approaches to calculating the plasma density from the ion current to a probe is performed.     

Comparison of spatial patterns of soil seed banks between larch plantations and adjacent secondary forests in Northeast China: implication for spatial distribution of larch plantations

In response to increasing timber demands, the natural secondary forest (NSF) is largely converted to larch plantation (LP) in Northeast China. However, it causes a series of problems such as mono-species composition, declined soil fertility and unsustainable productivity. On the other hand, it brings a great challenge for the forest managers to answer how to keep the LP with higher natural regeneration capability and how to change the pure plantations into mixed forests with more complex stand structures. Two typical spatial distribution patterns of LP within the NSF ecosystem, i.e., the Contour Type (CT, NSF and LP locating at the same slope position and aspect) and the Up-and-Down Type (UDT, LP locating at the down slope of adjacent NSF in the same aspect) were selected. The objectives of this study were to find out the optimal spatial distribution type of the LP to improve the regeneration potential (i.e., seeds in the soil stock) and the possibility inducing them into larch-broadleaved mixed forests. The spatial patterns of seed bank along the transects with the NSF-boundary-LP gradient were compared between CT and UDT. We found that in the CT stands, seed density of all species varied as a quadratic curve from NSF to LP and the largest seed density occurred at the boundary; for the dominant tree species in NSF, seed density of Fraxinus rhynchophylla tended to decrease logarithmically from NSF to LP and the seeds could only appear at 4 m away from the boundary in LP; litter depth was closely correlated with seed density and species richness in seed bank. In the UDT stands, seed density of all species tended to increase linearly from NSF to LP, and seed density in LP was 1.95 times higher than that in NSF significantly; seed densities of F. rhynchophylla and Acer mono increased as a quadratic curve from NSF to LP; the canopy openness was linearly correlated with seed density. Our results indicated that the establishment of the Up (NSF)-and-Down (LP) Type of stands could be more feasible for seed invasion. Comparative studies on the patterns of seed banks across the two spatial distribution types of larch plantations within the secondary forest ecosystem may provide some new insights into the tending measures on the LP management.