Original Contributions |
From the Department of Cardiovascular Biochemistry, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry (M.N.N., N.E.M.), London, UK; and ZLB Central Laboratory, Blood Transfusion Service SRC (J.E.D., P.G.L.), Bern, Switzerland.
Correspondence to Prof Norman E. Miller, Department of Cardiovascular Biochemistry, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
-migrating
apoA1 containing HDLs increased. ApoB-containing lipoproteins became
enriched in CEs. Addition of apoA1/PC discs to whole blood at 37°C in
vitro also generated small preß HDLs, but did not augment the
transfer of UC from erythrocytes to plasma. We conclude that the disc
infusions increased the intravascular production of small
preß HDLs in vivo, and that this was associated with an increase in
the efflux and esterification of UC derived from fixed tissues. The
extent to which the increase in tissue cholesterol efflux
was dependent on that in preß HDL production could not be
determined. Infusion of discs also reduced the plasma apoB and apoA2
concentrations, and increased plasma triglycerides and
apoC3. Thus, nascent HDL secretion may have a significant impact on
preß HDL production, reverse cholesterol
transport and lipoprotein metabolism in humans.
Key Words: apolipoprotein A1 cholesterol HDLs lecithin phosphatidylcholine
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
-mobility. A few HDLs contain
no core lipids, and have preß electrophoretic mobility.2
Three size subclasses of preß HDLs have been described:
preß1, which are the smallest and contain 1
molecule of apoA1; preß2, which are PL-rich
discs containing 3 apoA1 molecules; and preß3,
which contain lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)
and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in addition to
apoA-I.2 3 Unlike some
-HDLs, preß HDLs do not
contain apoA2.3
Lipoproteins containing apoA1 play a central role in
cholesterol transport from tissues (reverse
cholesterol transport, RCT).3 Native plasma
HDLs and reconstituted apoA1/PL discs promote efflux of UC from
cultured cells.4 5 When fibroblasts containing
radiolabeled cholesterol are exposed to plasma, most of the
radioactivity released initially enters the
preß1 HDLs.2 Cell-derived UC then
appears sequentially in the preß2 and
preß3 HDLs, wherein it is esterified by LCAT.
The resultant CEs are transferred by CETP to
-HDLs. Some are then
transferred to triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TGRLs) in
exchange for triglycerides (TGs).1 3
Preß1 HDL concentration appears to be
rate-limiting for UC efflux from cultured fibroblasts.6
Some apoE- and apoA4-containing HDLs also remove UC from cultured
cells.7 8
The origin of the preß HDLs is unclear. Similar particles are
formed when lipid-free apoA1 recruits PLs and UC from cultured
cells.9 In vitro lipid-free apoA1 and/or small
preß1-like particles are released by the
actions of CETP and hepatic lipase (HL) on
-HDLs,10 and
by fusion of
-HDLs with each other or with discoidal
lipoproteins.11 In addition to the
preß2/3 HDLs, several other discoidal
lipoproteins have been described: apoE/PL particles secreted by
macrophages12 ; the surface remnants of lipolyzed
TGRLs13 ; and nascent HDLs, secreted by liver and small
intestine, composed of PL, UC, and pro-apoA1.14
Experiments in vitro have indicated that after entering plasma
nascent HDLs probably acquire UC and associate with LCAT, leading to
their conversion into
-HDLs with CE-rich cores. This presumably
explains the abundance of discoidal HDLs in subjects with LCAT
deficiency.15 However, there is little information on the
normal metabolism of nascent HDLs, their interactions with
mature lipoproteins, or their effects on lipid transport in vivo. To
address these questions, we studied the effects of IV infusion of
apoA1/PC discs on plasma lipoproteins in healthy humans.
| Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
-tocopherol as antioxidant (Phospholipon 90) was
obtained from Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, Nattermann Phospholipid.
Sucrose (final concentration, 10% wt/vol) was added to stabilize the
discs, and the protein concentration was adjusted to 2% (wt/vol).
After filtration (0.22 µm) the particles were dispensed in glass
bottles (1 g apoA1), lyophilized, sealed under vacuum, and stored at
4°C. Their properties have been described in detail.17
The discs contained no pyrogens. They were prepared in the absence of
oxygen, and no evidence of phospholipid peroxidation was detected. They
were stable for at least 2 years at 4°C or 30°C.17
When redissolved in water (2% wt/vol with respect to protein), they
were stable for at least 60 days at 4°C, and had a pH of 7.5, a
sodium concentration of 17 mmol/L, a cholate concentration of
13 mmol/L, and an osmolality of 450 mosmol/kg.17 On
electron microscopy there were 2 main populations, 12.6±2.8 and
17.7±4.2 nm (mean±SD) in diameter, each 4.8±0.3 nm thick (Figure 1
77%), and had a lower
mean apoA1/PC molar ratio (
1:100 versus 1:200). There was
essentially no free PC or free apoA1. The larger discs contained 3 or
4, and the smaller discs 2 or 3, apoA1 molecules.17 They
were efficient cofactors for LCAT in vitro,17 and promoted
cholesterol efflux from cultured cells.19
|
Subjects and Clinical Procedures
Seven healthy males were studied
(Table
). Subjects were excluded if they
had allergies, alcoholism or hematologic, hepatic, renal,
cardiovascular, endocrine or inflammatory disease; if
they had taken any medication within 2 weeks; if they were HIV
positive; or if they had received blood products during the past
year. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee. All
subjects gave informed consent.
|
Clinical procedures were carried out in a metabolic ward (Clin-Pharma Research AG, Birsfelden, Switzerland), to which the subjects were admitted after an overnight fast (12 to 14 hours). The apoA1/PC discs were infused into a forearm vein. Each bottle was dissolved (5 minutes, room temperature) with 40 mL sterile water (final protein concentration, 20 mg/mL). The appropriate amount was mixed with sterile 0.15 mmol/L NaCl to provide the required dose in 300 mL. Three subjects were given 25 mg/kg, and four were given 40 mg/kg. Each infusion lasted 4 hours: 40 mL/h for the first 0.5 hours, and then 80 mL/h for 3.5 hours. Fat-free meals were provided 4.5 and 10.5 hours after the start of the infusion. Blood for measurements of lipoproteins and cholate and for routine clinical chemistry and hematology was collected from the contralateral arm into plain glass tubes, disodium EDTA (final concentration, 1 mg/mL) or heparin (15 IU/mL) as appropriate, immediately before (Time 0) and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 24 hours after the start of the infusion. (Clinical chemistry included bilirubin, glucose, total protein, urea, uric acid, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, amylase, AST, ALT, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, gamma GT and haptoglobin. Hematology included hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell count, white cell count and differential and platelet count.) Blood samples were centrifuged at 4°C and 1500g for 30 minutes. Clotted blood for immunology was collected at Time 0 and 1, 3 and 14 to 27 weeks later. (Total IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE were measured, and tests for antibodies to human apoA1 and the apoA1/PC discs were performed after 1 and 3 weeks. Tests for hepatitis Bs antigen and for antibodies to HIV, hepatitis A, hepatitis C, and cytomegalovirus (commercial kits) were made after 14 to 27 weeks.) Immediately before the infusion each subject emptied his bladder, and urine was tested for glucose, protein, and hemoglobin. Thereafter all urine was collected for 24 hours. Pulse rate, blood pressure, and oral temperature were recorded at Time 0, and then every 10 minutes for 0.5 hours, every 15 minutes for the next 3.5 hours, every 60 minutes for the next 8 hours, and after 24 hours.
Laboratory Procedures
Lipids and Apolipoproteins
All assays were performed in duplicate. Plasma total
cholesterol, UC, TG, and choline-containing PLs were
quantified using commercial enzymes (Sigma) and Trinder-type reagents
(Research Organics) in a microtiter plate
spectrophotometer20 ; CE was calculated by difference. The
TG measurements were not corrected for endogenous free
glycerol. Precinorm L®
(Boehringer-Mannheim GmBH) was used as calibrator. HDL lipids
were measured after precipitation of apoB-containing lipoproteins with
polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 (8% wt/vol, final
concentration).21 ApoA1, apoA2, apoB, and apoC3 were
quantified by rocket immunoelectrophoresis in the presence of PEG (3%
wt/vol) and Tween 20 (0.2% vol/vol).22 All apoAssays were
standardized using dilutions of Precinorm L.
Crossed Immunoelectrophoresis
Nonsieving charge-based electrophoresis in the first
dimension was performed through a 1% (wt/vol) low electroendosmosis
agarose slab gel (SeaKem LE, FMC Bioproducts) at 30 V/cm for 2
hours at 4°C, using 63 mmol/L Tris, 27 mmol/L Tricine,
1 mmol/L calcium lactate, 3 mmol/L sodium azide (pH 8.6) as
the electrolyte, in a Bio-Phoresis flat-bed chamber (Bio-Rad Labs Ltd).
The second dimension was through the same gel matrix impregnated with
0.5% (vol/vol) goat polyclonal anti-human apoA1 serum (INCStar Corp,
Stillwater, Minn), 0.2% (vol/vol) Tween 20 and 3% (wt/vol) PEG 6000,
at 15 V/cm for 16 hours at 4°C using the same buffer. After removal
of reactants by soaking in 150 mmol/L NaCl, antigen-antibody
complexes were visualized with 0.5% (wt/vol) Coomassie Blue R250 in
ethanol:acetic acid:water (9:2:9 vol/vol/vol).22
Size Exclusion Chromatography
To separate VLDLs, LDLs, and HDLs, plasma (100 µL) was
passed through a Superose 6 column (10 mmx300 mm) (HR 10/30,
Pharmacia LKB) at ambient temperature. A degassed solution of 50
mmol/L Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 150 mmol/L NaCl, 0.1% (wt/vol)
Na2EDTA, 0.1% (wt/vol) sodium azide was used as
eluant, pumped at 0.5 mL/min by a computer-driven HPLC pump (Kontron
Instruments Ltd).22 After excluding the void volume,
200-µL fractions were collected by drop counting into microtiter
plates, using a Gilson FC203 fraction collector, and assayed for apos
or lipids. Recoveries were >90%. Fractions 4 to 7 contained VLDLs,
fractions 9 to 15 the LDLs, and fractions 17 to 23 the HDLs. Apos were
quantified by liquid phase double-antibody radioimmunoassays. Tween 20
(0.2% vol/vol, final concentration) was used to expose cryptic
epitopes and reduce nonspecific binding, and PEG 6000 (3% wt/vol,
final concentration) to enhance reaction kinetics.22 The
primary antisera were goat polyclonal IgGs against delipidated human
apos (International Immunology Corp, Calif). The precipitating antibody
was donkey anti-goat IgG (Chemicon, Harrow, UK).
Radioiodinated tracers were prepared using delipidated
human apos and LDL (d=1.020 to 1.055 g/mL). After an
overnight incubation at 4°C and centrifugation at
1500g for 30 minutes at 4°C, radioactivity in
antibody-bound pellets was quantified to
0.1% counting error.
Another HP-SEC method was used to separate apoA1-containing
particles into 3 subclasses: a major population
representing about 95% of apoA1 (fractions 20 to 40), a
minor population of larger particles (fractions 10 to 15), and a minor
population of small particles (fractions 41 to 55). With use of the
same eluant as in the Superose 6 method (flow rate, 0.75 mL/min),
50-µL aliquots of plasma were chromatographed through
Superdex 200 and Superdex 75 gel permeation columns (HR 10/30,
Pharmacia) in series. Collection of fractions (200 µL) and
immunoassay of apoA1 were as described above. The different subclasses
isolated by this method have been fully characterized (E.A. Brinton and
M.N. Nanjee, manuscript in preparation).
[The smallest particles (fractions 41 to 55) all have preß
electrophoretic mobility, normally account on average for 9% of plasma
apoA1, have a molecular weight range of 40 to 60 kDa, contain no apoA2,
and contain no detectable CE, UC, or TG. Their concentration was
increased in hypertriglyceridemic,
LCAT-deficient, and postheparin plasma. When plasma was
incubated at 37°C, this subclass first disappeared (by 1 to 4 hours)
and then reappeared in excess during long-term incubation. These
particles contain no detectable PL by our assay, indicating that there
are fewer than 5 molecules of PL per particle. Thus, some of them may
be lipid-free apoA1 dimers. The major population of particles
(fractions 20 to 40) has a molecular weight range from 60 to 500 kDa,
has
-electrophoretic mobility, contains apoA2 in addition to apoA1,
is rich in CEs, and also contains UC, TG, and PL. The very largest
particles (fractions 10 to 15) have preß mobility, a molecular weight
of >500 kDa, and are rich in PL. Some of these data have been
presented.23 ]
Other Methods
Antibodies to lipid-free human apoA1 and apoA1/PC discs in serum
were sought by immunoblotting, passive
hemagglutination, and an ELISA, as previously described.22
Cholate was quantified using a commercial enzymatic
colorimetric kit (Merck).
Statistical Analyses
Changes relative to Time 0 were examined by repeated-measures
2-way ANOVA and Fisher's protected least significant difference test;
P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Plasma Total ApoA1, Phospholipids, and Cholate
During the infusions plasma total apoA1 concentration
increased linearly by 22.9±2.7% and 43.3±8.3% (mean±SEM) at the
low and high doses, respectively (Figure 2
). Thereafter, plasma apoA1 decayed in
an apparently bi-exponential manner, although there were insufficient
data for mathematical modeling. Plasma total PL increased during the
low and high doses by 74.4±4.2% and 129.6±3.5%, respectively, and
then decreased at a rate which always exceeded that of apoA1 (Figure 2
). The infused cholate was cleared rapidly (Figure 2
).
|
Lipoprotein Lipids
Except where otherwise stated, in this and subsequent sections,
the low-dose infusions had effects that were qualitatively similar to,
but smaller than, those produced by the high dose. Changes in total
cholesterol, UC, CE, TG, and PL in whole plasma, HDLs and
non-HDL lipoproteins are shown in Figure 3
. Almost all the increment in plasma
total PL was in the HDLs. This was accompanied by a rise in HDL UC.
After the infusion, HDL UC decreased in association with a rise in HDL
CE. There was little effect on the non-HDL UC or non-HDL CE
concentrations. During the 4 hours after the infusion, plasma TG
increased on average by 46%, owing to a rise in non-HDL TG.
|
ApoA2, -B, and -C3
The low-dose infusions had no significant effects on plasma total
apoA2 or apoB. However, the high-dose transiently decreased both apoA2
and apoB (Figure 4
). The reduction of
apoB concentration was accompanied by a substantial increase in the
non-HDL CE/apoB ratio (Figure 5
). All
infusions increased plasma total apoC3 (Figure 4
).
|
|
Size Exclusion Chromatography
The distributions of apoA1, apoB, apoC3, UC, CE, and PL in
size subclasses of lipoproteins were studied. After separation through
Superdex 200 and 75, a major increase in the concentration of the
smallest apoA1-containing particles was observed throughout each
infusion (Figure 6
). Thereafter, their
concentration declined, although it was still above baseline at 24
hours. The major population of apoA1-containing particles increased in
size and concentration.
|
Results obtained with Superose 6 appear in Figure 7
. In the HDL subclasses the increments
in UC and CE were initially greater in the region where the larger
particles eluted. UC and CE in the region of large LDLs also increased,
whereas those in the small LDL region decreased. The apoB profiles
showed that apoB-containing particles of all sizes were reduced in
number during the first 6 hours. The increase in plasma total apoC3 was
confined to the HDL size range.
|
Crossed Immunoelectrophoresis
A striking increase in preß-migrating apoA1 was observed
during each infusion (Figure 8
);
thereafter, preß apoA1 declined. The concentration of apoA1 in
-migrating HDLs was also increased, but to a proportionately lesser
degree.
|
Experiments in Vitro
Several experiments were carried out in vitro to clarify the
mechanisms of the changes observed in vivo. The extent to which the
increase in HDL cholesterol in vivo might have reflected
uptake of UC from erythrocytes and/or non-HDL lipoproteins was examined
by incubating whole EDTA-blood at 37°C with or without the addition
of apoA1/PC discs at Time 0. In the absence of discs the major changes
during incubation were increases in the plasma total
cholesterol and total CE concentrations, reflecting
increases in both HDL CE and non-HDL CE (Figure 9
). Addition of discs at Time 0 had no
effect on the rise in plasma total cholesterol or total CE
during subsequent incubation (except perhaps beyond 10 hours of
incubation). This was documented at disc apoA1 concentrations of up to
50 mg/dL, about the average increment in plasma apoA1 achieved in vivo
with the high-dose infusions. However, the distribution of CE between
HDLs and non-HDLs was altered, such that the HDL CE/non-HDL CE ratio
was higher in the presence of discs. These findings, obtained using PEG
6000 to separate lipoproteins, were confirmed in 1 experiment in which
Superose 6 was used instead (data not shown).
|
In other experiments the effects of the discs on
incubation-induced changes in size subclasses of apoA1-containing HDLs
were studied, using HP-SEC through Superdex 200 and 75. In the absence
of discs incubation of whole EDTA-blood at 37°C was associated first
with a decrease in the concentration of the smallest particles, which
had disappeared by 2 hours, followed by their reappearance and increase
in concentration between 4 and 24 hours (Figure 10
). In contrast, when discs were added
at Time 0, the small apoA1-containing particles increased during the
first 4 hours, followed by a progressive decline. Similar results were
obtained when EDTA-plasma was incubated with or without discs (data not
shown). In the same experiments preß- and
-migrating apoA1s were
measured by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The results for preß apoA1
paralleled those seen in the smallest apoA1 particles by HP-SEC
(Figure 11
).
|
|
In similar incubations of blood or plasma apoC3 was assayed in Superose 6 size subclasses. Addition of discs induced a transfer of apoC3 from non-HDLs to HDLs. This was evident within 15 minutes, and increased during further incubation up to 60 minutes (data not shown).
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Although the discs contained some cholate, this was rapidly cleared from plasma. The presence of some cholate has probably been a feature of most similar proteoliposomes used for in vitro and tissue culture work.5 31 40 41 42 50 We undertook no studies using an aqueous cholate infusion as a control. Because the cholate in the apoA1/PC disc preparations is bound to the particles, not in aqueous solution, the effects of such cholate infusions, if any, would not have been relevant.
The more rapid decline in plasma PL than in plasma apoA1 concentration
after infusion presumably reflected the transfer of PLs to tissues
and/or the actions of LCAT, HL, and other phospholipases. The increase
in HDL UC during the infusions, the reciprocal changes in HDL UC and
HDL CE after infusion, and the rise in non-HDL CE/apoB ratio were all
consistent with increased uptake and esterification of UC by
HDLs, followed by transfer of CEs to apoB-containing lipoproteins by
CETP. This result contrasts with the failure of infused lipid-free
apoA1 to increase HDL UC or HDL CE in humans.22
Theoretically, the UC entering the HDLs during the disc infusions could
have come from several sources: other lipoproteins, erythrocytes,
and/or fixed tissues. Other lipoproteins are unlikely to have been a
major source, as non-HDL UC decreased only slightly (Figure 3
),
and such a mechanism could not explain the rise in plasma total
cholesterol concentration that occurred.
To clarify the origin of the new UC entering the HDLs in vivo several experiments were carried out in vitro. In the absence of discs, incubation of whole EDTA-blood at 37°C increased the concentrations of HDL CE and non-HDL CE, without any major decrease in UC. This phenomenon is well recognized and is attributable mostly to the transfer of UC from erythrocytes to HDLs, driven by the LCAT reaction.32 Although addition of discs to blood at Time 0 augmented the subsequent incubation-induced increase in HDL CE, it tended also to reduce that in non-HDL CE, and had no significant effect on the rise in plasma total cholesterol or total CE concentration. This presumably reflected a decrease in the rate of transfer of newly formed CEs from HDLs to other lipoproteins, with no change in the efflux of UC from erythrocytes. Bruce et al33 have shown that the binding affinity of CETP for HDLs is influenced by their size, shape, and lipid composition. Thus, the rise in HDL cholesterol observed in vivo must have reflected an increase in the efflux of UC from fixed tissues, with little or no contribution from erythrocytes. It is not possible from these results to determine which fixed tissues were the sources of the new cholesterol that appeared in the plasma HDLs.
The disc infusions also had significant effects on apoB-containing lipoproteins. The rise in plasma TG concentration was similar in magnitude to, but about 4 hours later than, that seen with lipid-free apoA1 infusion, when it was attributed to inhibition of lipolysis of TGRLs.22 The decrease in plasma total apoB that occurred in the present study, but not after lipid-free apoA1,22 involved all classes of apoB-containing particles. This might have been secondary to an increase in the activity of LDL receptors consequent on reduction of intracellular UC,34 and/or to an increase in the binding of VLDL remnants to hepatic receptors35 secondary to the transfer of apoC3 to HDLs which the discs induced. The rise in the plasma concentration of apoC3 (catabolized mostly as a component of TGRLs and their remnants) may also have been a consequence of its transfer to HDLs. The mechanism of the decline in plasma apoA2 concentration is not apparent. It is unlikely to have resulted from release of apoA2 from endogenous HDLs, because apoA2 is more resistant to displacement from HDLs than is apoA1.36
In all subjects infusion of apoA1/PC discs initially raised the
plasma concentration of preß-migrating apoA1. After the infusions,
preß apoA1 declined, accompanied by an increase in
-migrating
apoA1. Crossed immunoelectropherograms of the discs before infusion
showed a major peak whose mobility was slightly faster than that of
normal plasma preß apoA1, and a minor peak with mobility between
those of preß and
-apoA1 in plasma (Figure 1
). This
suggested that the discs were rapidly remodeled in vivo to generate
physiological preß HDLs. This is compatible with
the results of our preliminary electron microscopic examinations of
plasma HDLs (d=1.063 to 1.21 g/mL), which showed only
occasional discoidal particles after infusion (results not shown). It
is also supported by the results of our Superdex HP-SEC separations,
which showed that the concentration of the smallest apoA1-containing
particles increased during the infusions. As described under Methods,
one of us (M.N.N.) has shown that the composition, physical properties,
electrophoretic mobility, and metabolic behavior of these
particles are similar to those of the preß1
HDLs (lipid-poor apoA-I).3 6 37 38 39 The infused disc
preparation contained no such particles (Figure 1
). Although it
cannot be completely excluded, it seems unlikely that LCAT played a
major role in this process, as the rise in the concentration of small
preß HDLs preceded that in plasma HDL CE concentration (Figures 3
, 6
, and 8
). Our incubation experiments in vitro
showed that the generation of small preß HDLs by the discs was not
dependent on the liver or other organs or on active lipolysis; nor did
it require erythrocytes. One possibility is that it resulted from
fusion of the discs with endogenous spheroidal
-HDLs, in
a process similar to that observed by others when reconstituted
discoidal lipoproteins40 41 or PL liposomes42
were incubated with isolated plasma HDLs in vitro. The decline in small
preß HDLs and rise in large
-HDLs which occurred after infusion in
vivo can be attributed to the conversion of the former to the
latter through the action of LCAT.6 38 39 Some small
preß HDLs may have been metabolized by the kidney43 or
have moved into the extravascular space.44
One of us (M.N.N.) has shown that the small HDLs isolated by Superdex
200/75 HP-SEC (fractions 41 to 55) contain no PL that is detectable by
our enzymatic assay. Based on the known sensitivity of this assay,
these smallest particles must each contain <5 molecules of PL. Thus,
some of them may be lipid-free apoA1, which is well known to have
preß mobility (eg, Figure 1
). Thus, we are unable to determine
from our results whether the disc infusions produced lipid-poor
apoA1-containing particles (preß1 HDLs)
directly, or induced the release of lipid-free apoA1, as has been
reported from studies in vitro.36 45 46 Such lipid-free
apoA1 presumably would then have associated with cell membrane PLs to
form preß1 HDLs.9 47 48
Because these and similar apoA1/PC discs have been shown to promote the release of cholesterol from cultured cells,4 5 19 it is likely that circulating discs removed UC from any cells that were directly exposed to them. However, as the discs were evidently short-lived and were rapidly remodeled in the circulation, this probably applied only to those tissues (eg, liver, spleen) that have an open endothelial architecture through which the discs could have readily passed. In most peripheral tissues, however, the principal acceptors of cell-derived UC are more likely to have been the small preß HDLs, which on charge and size considerations would have crossed normal capillary endothelium more readily than the discs.
This is the first study in which the effects of reconstituted discoidal HDLs on lipoprotein subclasses have been studied in normal humans. When Carlson49 infused recombinant pro-apoA1/PC discs into 4 men (3 of whom had plasma TG >5 mmol/L), HDL cholesterol increased on average by 0.14 mmol/L. However, interpretation of this result was complicated because plasma TG also decreased by 1.35 mmol/L. Kuivenhoven et al50 reported that IV apoA1/PC discs increased plasma total cholesterol in 3 subjects with Tangier disease. We have previously reported that IV infusion of lipid-free apoA1 failed to increase HDL cholesterol in humans.22 However, because the infusions acutely raised plasma TG, no conclusions could be drawn from those data about the role of lipid-free apoA1 in RCT. We and others have shown that IV Intralipid (which contains both TG/PL particles and PL liposomes) increased plasma total UC in humans, but reduced HDL CE, and had no effect on plasma total CE.22 51 52 Neary et al53 reported that Intralipid also reduced plasma preß apoA1 concentration in humans. Koizumi et al54 found that apo-HDL/PC complexes increased HDL cholesterol and reduced non-HDL cholesterol in rabbits, whereas PL liposomes (Lipostabil) decreased both. In the same species Rodrigueza et al55 showed that large unilamellar PL liposomes increased VLDL UC and LDL UC, but not lipoprotein CEs. Small PL liposomes raised HDL CE, but their major effect was on LDL UC. Thus, Intralipid and PL liposomes probably increase the nonspecific diffusional transfer of UC from cell membranes to plasma, but are unlikely to mimic the effects of nascent HDLs.
In summary, our findings suggest that infusion of apoA-I/PC discs
increased the mobilization of UC from tissues to plasma HDLs in humans.
This probably involved 2 independent processes56 57 58 : (1)
nonspecific transfer of UC to the discs from those cells (eg, in liver
and spleen) which, on account of a fenestrated local
endothelium, were directly exposed to the discs; and
(2) stimulation of the specific apoA1 dependent pathway in other
peripheral tissues, secondary to the generation of small
lipid-poor preß1 HDLs (either directly or after
the release of lipid-free apoA1) and their transfer across capillary
endothelia into the extravascular space. Esterification of
tissue-derived UC by LCAT led to the conversion of the discs and preß
HDLs to CE-rich
-HDLs, and to the transfer of some CEs to
apoB-containing particles. Thus, nascent HDL secretion may have a
significant impact on RCT in humans. More work will be needed to fully
understand the mechanism(s) of preß1 HDL
production, to identify the tissues affected, and to determine
the extent to which the mobilized cholesterol is eliminated
via the liver.
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
Received March 6, 1998; accepted September 29, 1998.
| References |
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R. R. Singaraja, M. Van Eck, N. Bissada, F. Zimetti, H. L. Collins, R. B. Hildebrand, A. Hayden, L. R. Brunham, M. H. Kang, J.-C. Fruchart, et al. Both Hepatic and Extrahepatic ABCA1 Have Discrete and Essential Functions in the Maintenance of Plasma High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels In Vivo Circulation, September 19, 2006; 114(12): 1301 - 1309. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Kontush and M. J. Chapman Functionally Defective High-Density Lipoprotein: A New Therapeutic Target at the Crossroads of Dyslipidemia, Inflammation, and Atherosclerosis Pharmacol. Rev., September 1, 2006; 58(3): 342 - 374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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