豚鼠：一种良好的高脂血症模型动物

从豚鼠血浆脂蛋白组成、胆固醇和脂蛋白代谢特点等方面阐述了豚鼠与人类的相似性,并对其高脂血症模型的优势进行了评价,为构建豚鼠高脂血症模型并应用于降脂及抗动脉粥样硬化药物的研究提供参考。     

PPAR在动脉粥样硬化发生与发展中的作用

动脉粥样硬化(AS)是一种以动脉壁脂质蓄积为特征的复杂病变过程。过氧化酶体增殖物激活型受体(PPAR)是核内孤儿受体家族成员,它作为脂质和脂蛋白代谢的调节物,可以调控血浆胆固醇及甘油三酯的水平、促进脂肪细胞分化、影响巨噬细胞内胆固醇内稳态、稳定斑块、抑制血小板聚积从而影响AS的发生和发展。PPAR可通过对基因转录的调控来调理脂质代谢紊乱,并在血管壁水平直接产生抗AS作用。     

动脉粥样硬化小鼠模型应用进展

动脉粥样硬化(arteriosclerosis, AS)是常见的心脏病和中风等心脑血管疾病的病理基础，其诱因具有复杂、多样的特点。小鼠模型凭借成熟的基因改造优势，为研究AS发病机制和药物疗效验证等方面提供了重要依据。本文基于脂蛋白代谢及组织病理学变化情况，综述了传统转基因与新型小鼠模型的病理特点及其在药物开发中的临床前应用潜力和局限性，以便今后该疾病相关机制研究可以有针对性地选择模型。     

低密度脂蛋白胆固醇升高在家兔动脉粥样硬化发生发展中的意义

目的观察低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-c)对家兔动脉粥样硬化(AS)形成的影响,探讨AS的发生机制。方法以高脂饲料复制家兔实验性AS模型,分阶段检测家兔血清胆固醇(TC)、甘油三脂(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-c)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-c)含量;观察主动脉内膜病理学变化;分析主动脉内膜增生程度及AS斑块面积与血浆脂蛋白水平的相关性。结果高脂组家兔主动脉粥样硬化面积和内膜增生程度明显较对照组增加(P<0.01),血浆LDL-c水平明显较对照组升高(P<0.01);动脉内膜增生程度及AS斑块面积均与血浆LDL-c水平呈非常显著正相关(r=0.837,P<0.001)。结论提示血浆LDL-c水平升高,是致AS发生发展的重要原因。     

固醇调节素结合蛋白与动脉粥样硬化关系的研究进展

动脉粥样硬化(Atherosclerosis,AS)的发生与血浆胆固醇水平、血管平滑肌细胞(Vascular smooth muscle cell,VSMC)密切相关.经研究证明,血浆胆固醇水平和VSMC是AS发病的关键因素.血浆胆固醇水平过高会促进AS的发生、发展;VSMC、向内膜迁移、增殖形成新生内膜也在AS的发生、发展中起重要作用.固醇调节素结合蛋白(Sterol regulatory element binding protein,SREBP)在调节胆固醇合成及代谢的平衡和稳态中起独有的重要作用,其过度表达将引起脂代谢的紊乱,造成非脂肪组织的脂质积聚,促进AS的发生和发展;而且,SREBP与VSMC之间存在一定的相互关系,SREBP在VSMC表达并参与VSMC盼迁移和增殖,在AS中发挥了重要作用.     

低密度脂蛋白胆固醇升高在家兔动脉粥样硬化发生发展中的意义

目的：观察低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-c）对家兔动脉粥样硬化（AS）形成的影响,探讨AS的发生机制.方法：以高脂饲料复制家兔实验性AS模型,分阶段检测家兔血清胆固醇（TC）、甘油三脂（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-c）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-c）含量;观察主动脉内膜病理学变化;分析主动脉内膜增生程度及AS斑块面积与血浆脂蛋白水平的相关性.结果：高脂组家兔主动脉粥样硬化面积和内膜增生程度明显较对照组增加（P〈0.01）,血浆LDL-c水平明显较对照组升高（P〈0.01）;动脉内膜增生程度及AS斑块面积均与血浆LDL-c水平呈非常显著正相关（r=0.837,P〈0.001）.结论：提示血浆LDL-c水平升高,是致AS发生发展的重要原因.     

卵磷脂胆固醇酰基转移酶基因的多态性和突变与动脉粥样硬化关系

卵磷脂胆固醇酰基转移酶(Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase,LCAT)催化血浆中绝大多数胆固醇的酯化—外周组织胆固醇逆向转运(Reverse cholesterol transportation,RCT)到肝脏进一步分解的关键步骤,同时调节血浆高密度胎蛋白(high density lipoprotein,HDL)等脂蛋白的成熟与代谢。对其基因多态性和突变的研究表明：LCAT在RCT、脂代谢和动脉粥样硬化发生发展中起重要作用,有可能作为预防或治疗动脉粥样硬化的靶基因。     

高密度脂蛋白与动脉粥样硬化

高密度脂蛋白(HDL)是一类含磷脂、胆固醇、甘油三酯和载脂蛋白(apoprotein,APO)的大分子颗粒,其电泳迁移率处于α带,又称α-脂蛋白。1975年Miller G.J.与Miller N.E确认HDL与冠心病呈负相关后,引起广泛重视。这里仅讨论HDL与动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,AS)的关系。一、HDL与AS相关的主要根据目前多数学者认为,血中HDL降低是AS的一个独立的危险因素,主要根据:(1)对正常人群与冠心病患者的对比研究发现,后者HDL降低。Castelli等认为,当HDL-ch由     

Krüppel样因子4通过支持PPARγ信号通路维持细胞稳态以保护血管平滑肌细胞免受泡沫细胞样表型转化的损害（英文）

动脉粥样硬化(AS)被普遍认为是一种血管壁细胞(包括内皮细胞和血管平滑肌细胞)、循环细胞以及固有免疫原性细胞(例如单核细胞/巨噬细胞)等多种细胞综合作用引起的炎症性疾病。其中血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)胆固醇超负荷形成的泡沫细胞可能在动脉粥样硬化的进展中发挥重要作用。Krüppel样因子4(KLF4)是一种关键的抗炎转录因子,尤其在心血管疾病方面,已被证实发挥了重要的血管功能保护作用。然而,目前尚不清楚KLF4是否在AS过程胆固醇对VSMCs的损伤中发挥保护作用。该研究旨在探讨KLF4在AS进展过程中VSMCs泡沫细胞样表型转化的作用及其分子机制。小鼠AS造模结果显示,KLF4缺失增加动脉粥样硬化斑块面积(P<0.05),并增加动脉壁脂质蓄积(P<0.05)及血清胆固醇含量(P<0.05),加速AS进展。细胞内油红O染色及胆固醇含量测定研究证实,KLF4缺失促进VSMCs内胆固醇蓄积(P<0.05)。QRT-PCR和Western印迹结果证实,KLF4缺失促进VSMCs胆固醇摄取、合成、促炎因子分泌及巨噬细胞黏附和胆固醇损伤诱导的巨噬细胞标志物的表达(P<...     

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。     

Exercise improves plasma lipid profiles and modifies lipoprotein composition in guinea pigs

These studies were conducted to determine the effects of exercise training on plasma lipoprotein levels and metabolism in the guinea pig to evaluate potential utilization of this model for studies of exercise-mediated effects on the regulation of sterol and lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis regression. Male guinea pigs (n = 5 per group) were randomly assigned to either a control or an exercise group. The exercise protocol consisted of a 7-week training program, 5 days/wk on a rodent treadmill. Final speed and duration were 33 meters/min for 30–40 min per session. Guinea pigs in the exercise group had 33% lower plasma triacylglycerol concentrations (P < 0.01), 66% higher HDL cholesterol levels (P < 0.05) and 31% lower plasma free fatty acids (P < 0.05) than guinea pigs from the non-exercised group. In addition, lipoprotein lipase activity in the heart was 50% higher (P < 0.025) in guinea pigs allocated to the exercise protocol. Exercise training resulted in modifications in composition and size of lipoproteins. The concentrations of free cholesterol in LDL and HDL were higher in the exercised guinea pigs. The LDL peak density values were lower in guinea pigs from the exercise group compared to controls suggesting that exercise training resulted in larger LDL particles. In contrast, no significant effects due to exercise were observed in hepatic cholesterol concentrations, hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity or LDL binding to guinea pig hepatic membranes. These data indicate that exercise had a more pronounced effect on the intravascular processing of lipoproteins than on hepatic cholesterol metabolism. In addition, the pattern of changes in guinea pig lipoprotein metabolism, in response to exercise training, was similar to reported effects in humans.     

Species-related variations in lipoprotein metabolism: the impact of FER(HDL) on susceptibility to atherogenesis

Several animal models have been used to investigate the mechanisms of atherogenesis. Each animal species has advantages and disadvantages with regard to similarity with human lipoprotein metabolism. In humans, fractional esterification rate in apolipoprotein B-depleted plasma (FER(HDL)) has been shown to correlate with the quality of high density lipoprotein particles. Increased values of FER(HDL) indicate an atherogenic lipoprotein profile. Such an association has not been defined in animal models. Thus, we have characterized plasma lipoprotein profile and FER(HDL) values in four animal species namely, cats, pigs, guinea pigs and rabbits. These animal species have been used in experimental dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Our data indicate a wide rage of variations among various animal species. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles contain approximately 40% of total plasma cholesterol concentrations in rabbits, pigs and cats <10% in guinea pigs. A negative association between FER(HDL) values and plasma HDL-cholesterol levels was observed in pigs, rabbits and guinea pigs. On the other hand, FER(HDL) values showed a positive association with plasma triglyceride levels in all animal species tested. These findings are in agreement with data reported in humans. More research is needed to identify the better animal models which closely resemble human lipoprotein metabolism.     

高脂饮食豚鼠高密度脂蛋白代谢的特点

目的研究豚鼠高脂饮食后高密度脂蛋白代谢的特点,并与大鼠进行比较。方法将豚鼠和大鼠分别随机分为正常组（NC）和高脂组（HF）,正常组均给予普通饲料,高脂组给予高脂饲料诱导10周后,测定血清LDL-C、HDL-C水平,HDL3/HDL2比值和LCAT、CETP的表达;采用real-time RT-PCR方法检测肝脏SR-BI表达的变化。结果与正常组相比,豚鼠高脂组血清HDL-C水平显著升高,高密度脂蛋白亚型HDL3/HDL2的比值升高,血清CETP表达均显著增加,血清LCAT表达下降,肝脏SR-BI mRNA表达水平是正常组的2.27倍。而相同高脂饲料条件下,大鼠的上述指标均无明显变化。结论豚鼠摄入高脂饮食后HDL代谢与大鼠有所不同,主要表现为血清HDL-C升高,肝脏SR-BI受体表达增加,高密度脂蛋白亚型组分发生变化,大颗粒HDL2含量相对减少,小颗粒HDL3堆积,其机制与血清CETP、LCAT的变化密切相关。     

Electric field effects on Guinea pig serum: the role of free radicals

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential effects of ELF (extremely low frequency) electric field exposure on generating free radicals in guinea pigs. For this purpose, we determined thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, one of the byproducts of lipid peroxidation, the changes of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), as an antioxidant enzyme, and gamma-Glutamyl transferase (GGT) as the key enzyme in GSH metabolism. Moreover, in order to investigate electric field effects on functions of organs, we measured the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), urea, uric acid, creatin, glucose, and blood-urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum of guinea pigs exposed to different intensities and directions electric fields. In this study we have found that vertical and horizontal application of ELF electric fields in the range of 1.35, 1.5, and 1.8 kV/m increased TBARS and SOD levels as compared to the controls (p < 0.05) and to applied electric fields of 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 kV/m. On the other hand, other serum levels of some biochemical parameters that were also investigated did not undergo statistically significant changes (p > 0.05).     

Characterization of guinea pig plasma lipoproteins: the appearance of new lipoproteins in response to dietary cholesterol

Dietary cholesterol induces a hemolytic anemia in guinea pigs, accompanied by changes in the lipid composition of red cells and of plasma lipoproteins. This report presents a characterization of the lipoprotein species present in each main density class in both control and cholesterol-fed guinea pigs. Traces of a typical high density lipoprotein (HDL) were detected in control plasma. HDL from cholesterol-fed, anemic guinea pigs differed from control HDL in electron microscopic appearance and lipid and peptide composition. Long stacks of discs were observed in the electron microscope in addition to smaller, spherical particles characteristic of control HDL. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) from cholesterol-fed, anemic guinea pigs had two main populations, which were separated by gel chromatography. One population appeared in the electron microscope as large transparent discs and contained mainly unesterified cholesterol and phospholipids in a 2:1 molar ratio. The other population resembled control LDL in size and composition except for its high unesterified cholesterol content. Dietary cholesterol also altered the composition and decreased the electrophoretic mobility of very low density lipoproteins. Gel electrophoretic and immunochemical evidence indicates that a peptide (mol wt 35,000) appears in lipoproteins from cholesterol-fed, anemic guinea pigs that is undetectable in those of controls. Similarities between the cholesterol-induced lipoprotein abnormalities in guinea pigs and those reported in patients with obstructive jaundice, biliary cirrhosis, type III hyperlipoproteinemia, or familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency are discussed.     

The effect of cholestyramine on liver HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase in various laboratory animals

The activity of HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase was assayed in the liver of rats, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs at the minimum of the day cycle and after one night fasting. The amount of HMG-CoA reductase, as determined after its complete dephosphorylation $\text{in vitro}$ was of the same order of magnitude in the tested species. The dephosphorylated active form of the enzyme was detectable only in the rat. Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity was also much higher in the rat.Cholestyramine treatment stimulated the activity of both enzymes. In particular, the ratio between active and inactive HMG-CoA reductase in rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs became of the same order of magnitude of that found in rats.     

High doses of simvastatin, pravastatin, and cholesterol reduce brain cholesterol synthesis in guinea pigs

Recent epidemiological studies suggest that inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl CoA reductase, so-called statins, are effective in lowering the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease. Whether the effect of statins is due to a local inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in the brain or whether it is mediated by the reduced levels of cholesterol in the circulation is not known. In the present work, we tested the possibility that high doses of lipophilic and hydrophilic statins, simvastatin and pravastatin, respectively, or a diet high in cholesterol could affect cholesterol homeostasis in the brain of guinea pigs. The total brain cholesterol levels were not affected by high-dose simvastatin or pravastatin treatment. Significantly lower levels of the cholesterol precursor lathosterol and its ratio to cholesterol were found in the brains of simvastatin and pravastatin-treated animals. 24S-Hydroxycholesterol, the transportable form of cholesterol across the blood-brain barrier, was significantly lower in the brain of pravastatin-treated animals. Excessive cholesterol feeding resulted in higher serum cholesterol levels but did not affect total brain cholesterol level. However, de novo cholesterol synthesis in the brain seemed to be down-regulated, as indicated by lower absolute levels and cholesterol-related ratios of lathosterol compared with controls. The passage of deuterium-labeled cholesterol across the blood-brain barrier in one animal was found to be approximately 1%. Our results suggest that brain cholesterol synthesis in guinea pigs can be slightly, but significantly, influenced by high doses of lipophilic and hydrophilic statins as well as by high dietary cholesterol intake, while total brain cholesterol content and thus, cholesterol homeostasis is maintained.     

Carbohydrate restriction and dietary cholesterol distinctly affect plasma lipids and lipoprotein subfractions in adult guinea pigs

To evaluate the effects of carbohydrate restriction (CR) and dietary cholesterol on lipoprotein metabolism, adult male guinea pigs (10 guinea pigs/diet) were fed either low (0.04 g/100 g) or high (0.25 g/100 g) amounts of dietary cholesterol, in combination with either low (10% total energy) or high (54.2% total energy) dietary carbohydrate (control groups) for a total of four groups: high carbohydrate–low cholesterol (control-L), high carbohydrate–high cholesterol (control-H), low carbohydrate–low cholesterol (CR-L) and low carbohydrate–high cholesterol (CR-H). Plasma triglyceride concentrations were lower (P<.01%), while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were higher (P<.05) in the CR groups compared to the control groups. In contrast, high dietary cholesterol (CR-H and control-H) resulted in higher concentrations of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol compared to those guinea pigs fed the low-cholesterol diets (P<.01). Dietary cholesterol significantly increased the total number of LDL particles (P<.001) and the number of small LDL (P<.001), as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. In contrast, carbohydrate restriction (CR-L and CR-H) resulted in lower concentrations of medium very-low-density lipoprotein and small LDL particles compared to the high-carbohydrate groups. Plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was decreased and cholesterol ester transfer protein activity was increased by dietary cholesterol, whereas carbohydrate restriction increased LCAT activity (P<.05). These findings are similar to those observed in humans, thus validating the use of adult guinea pigs to study lipid responses to carbohydrate restriction. The results also indicate that the atherogenicity of lipoproteins induced by high dietary cholesterol is attenuated by carbohydrate restriction in guinea pigs.     

The metabolic modification of low-density lipoproteins in normal and hypercholesterolaemic guinea pigs.

1. Low-density lipoproteins were isolated by ultracentrifugation from the serum of guinea pigs that were fed either on a normal diet, or on a diet supplemented with corn oil and cholesterol. 2. After labelling with tracer amounts of radioactive iodine, these lipoproteins were injected into the bloodstream of guinea pigs that were fed either on the normal or on the supplemented diet. 3. In all cases, the density of the labelled lipoproteins was increased by exposure for 24-48 h to the metabolic processes of the guinea pig. 4. The final density reached by lipoproteins isolated from fat-fed guinea pigs was less than that reached by lipoproteins from normal animals. 5. Fat-fed guinea pigs were unable to increase the density of either normal lipoproteins, or those from fat-fed guinea pits, to the same extent as animals fed on the normal diet. 6. It is concluded that the lipid-rich diet brings about a modification of lipoprotein metabolism in the guinea, pig, which plays an important part in determining the nature of the nature of the low-density lipoprotein that is present in the plasma.