家族性高胆固醇血症样表型遗传异质性的分子基础

家族性高胆固醇血症(FH)是由于低密度脂蛋白受体(LDL—R)基因突变,致使细胞表面LDL-R蛋白功能缺陷,导致血浆低密度脂蛋白(LDL)大幅度增高,并可导致早发冠心病。“FH”已经成为携带LDL-R基因突变患者的同意词,但日益增多的研究证实,其他6种基因突变也可通过不同机制导致FH样表型。这些致病基因的发现．促进胆固醇代谢的研究进入新领域,有助于深入探讨胆固醇代谢的调节机制,并将为FH样表型的诊断和治疗提供新的理论依据。文章就有关FH样表型遗传异质性的分子基础研究的近况作一简要综述．以引起人们的关注。     

ABCA1 gene promoter DNA methylation is associated with HDL particle profile and coronary artery disease in familial hypercholesterolemia

High-density lipoproteins cholesterol (HDL-C) level, a strong coronary artery disease (CAD) clinical biomarker, shows significant interindividual variability. However, the molecular mechanisms involved remain mostly unknown. ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) catalyzes the cholesterol transfer from peripheral cells to nascent HDL particles. Recently, a differentially methylation region was identified in ABCA1 gene promoter locus, near the first exon. Therefore, we hypothesized that DNA methylation changes at ABCA1 gene locus is one of the molecular mechanisms involved in HDL-C interindividual variability. The study was conducted in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a monogenic disorder associated with a high risk of CAD . Ninety-seven FH patients (all p.W66G for the LDLR gene mutation and not under lipid-lowering treatment) were recruited and finely phenotyped for DNA methylation analyses at ABCA1 gene locus. ABCA1 DNA methylation levels were found negatively correlated with circulating HDL-C (r = -0.20; p = 0.05), HDL2-phospholipid levels (r = -0.43; p = 0.04), and with a trend for association with HDL peak particle size (r = -0.38; p = 0.08). ABCA1 DNA methylation levels were also found associated with prior history of CAD (CAD = 40.2% vs. without CAD = 34.3%; p = 0.003). These results suggest that epigenetic changes within the ABCA1 gene promoter contribute to the interindividual variability in plasma HDL-C concentrations and are associated with CAD expression. These findings could change our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiological processes leading to CAD.     

Identification of Novel Missense Mutation G571E,Novel Silent Mutation H229H,Nonsense Mutation C74X,and Four Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Gene in Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia from St. Petersburg

Novel missense mutation G571E (c.1775 G > A), novel silent mutation H229H (c.750 C > T), and nonsense mutation C74X (c.285 C > A), earlier described in Japan but unknown in Russia, were identified in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene in St. Petersburg familial hypercholesterolemia patients. The analyzed group of patients was shown to be polymorphic in many positions of the LDL receptor gene, namely, c.1171 G/A, c.1773 T/C, c.2177 C/T, and c.2231 G/A.     

The effect of bafilomycin A1 and protease inhibitors on the degradation and recycling of a Class 5-mutant LDLR

The low-density lipoprotein receptor （LDLR） mediates cholesterol homeostasis through endocytosis of lipoprotein particles, particularly low-density lipoproteins （LDLs）. Normally, the lipoprotein particles are released in the endosomes and the receptors recycle to the cell surface. Familial hypercholesterolemia （FH） is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the LDLR. These mutations are divided into five functional classes where Class 5 mutations encode receptors that suffer from ligand-induced degradation and recycling deficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to prevent the fast ligand-induced degradation of Class 5-mutant LDLR and to restore its ability to recycle to the cell surface. E387K is a naturally occurring Class 5 mutation found in FH patients, and in the present study, we used Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with an E387K-mutant LDLR. Abrogation of endosomal acidification by adding bafdomycin A1 or addition of the irreversible serine protease inhibitors, 4-（2-aminoethyl）-benzenesulfonyl fluoride （AEBSF） and 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin （DCI）, prevented the degradation of the E387K-mutant LDLR. However, the undegraded receptor did not recycle to the cell surface in the presence of LDL. Unexpectedly, AEBSF caused aggregation of early endosome antigen-1positive endosomes and the intracellular trapped LDLR co-localized with these aggregated early endosomes.     

中国人群家族性高胆固醇血症LDLR基因突变研究进展

家族性高胆固醇血症(Familial hypercholesterolemia,FH)主要是由于低密度脂蛋白受体(Low-density lipoprotein receptor,LDLR)基因突变导致的单基因显性遗传性疾病。FH患者LDLR基因突变导致细胞膜表面LDLR减少或缺如,机体代谢胆固醇能力降低,血浆胆固醇增高并沉积在不同的组织和器官,常伴有全身黄色瘤和早发冠心病,因此FH也是最常见的严重代谢性疾病。世界范围内对LDLR基因突变的报道总共有1741种,经整理我国目前报道的140例FH指示病例,包括108种LDLR基因突变类型。文章对已报道的中国FH患者LDLR基因突变特点进行系统分析和综述,旨在为FH诊断治疗提供参考依据。     

家族性高胆固醇血症HDL-miRNAs调节血单核细胞功能机制

本研究通过生物信息学方法分析家族性高胆固醇血症患者外周血单核细胞差异表达基因、HDL载体差异表达miRNA及其生物学功能,研究差异HDL-miRNA与单核细胞差异基因的相关性,探讨HDL-miRNA调控外周血单核细胞功能机制,寻找动脉粥样硬化防治新靶点。运用R语言分析GEO数据库共享平台家族性高胆固醇血症外周血单核细胞基因及HDL-miRNA探针芯片得到差异基因及差异miRNA,利用miRwalk2. 0预测miRNA靶基因,并利用STRING进行蛋白互作分析,构建差异miRNA与差异基因之间的调控网络。运用GO及KEGG分析研究基因功能。利用GEO数据(GSE6054)筛选出834个差异表达基因,利用GEO数据(GSE25108)筛选出HDL上差异miRNA28个。交叉匹配得到由19个差异miRNA和56个差异基因组配对的74对miRNA-靶基因。GO富集分析56个差异基因主要富集于肾上腺素受体信号等分子功能。KEGG分析56个差异基因主要富集于造血谱系通路上。家族性高胆固醇血症差异HDL-miRNA与外周血单核细胞差异mRNA具有相关性,HDL-miRNA有通过调控血单核细胞功能的可能性,可能参与高胆固醇血症导致动脉粥样硬化过程。     

Mutations affecting the binding,internalization, and lysosomal hydrolysis of low density lipoprotein in cultured human fibroblasts,lymphocytes, and aortic smooth muscle cells

Studies comparing the metabolism of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in normal cells and in cells cultured from patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia have disclosed the existence of a receptor for plasma LDL. This receptor has been identified on the surface of human fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and aortic smooth muscle cells. An extension of these studies to cell strains derived from patients with other single gene defects in cholesterol metabolism has provided additional insight into the normal mechanisms by which cells regulate their cholesterol content and how alterations in these genetic control mechanisms may predispose to atherosclerosis in man.