Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins |
From the Departments of Cardiology (F.H.A.F.d.M., A.v.d.L.), Internal Medicine (I.J.A.M.J., A.H.M.S., J.A.G.L.), and Pediatrics (W.O.), Leiden University Medical Center, and Gaubius Laboratory (W.v.D., R.B., J.A.G.L., H.M.G.P.), TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden, the Netherlands, and the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (E.S., R.T.), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Correspondence to A. van der Laarse, PhD, Department Cardiology, C5-P, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600; 2300 RC Leiden, Netherlands. E-mail A.van_der_Laarse{at}lumc.nl
| Abstract |
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and
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-8-isoprostaglandin F2
)
and susceptibility of very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs) and LDLs to
oxidation ex vivo in 18 patients with endogenous HTG and 20
matched control subjects. In addition, the effects of 6 weeks of
bezafibrate therapy were assessed in a double-blind,
placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Urinary levels of
F2-isoprostanes were similar in the HTG and
normolipidemic group. Bezafibrate caused an increase in
8-isoprostaglandin F2
(762±313 versus
552±245 ng/24 h for bezafibrate and placebo therapy, respectively;
P=0.03), whereas
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-8-isoprostaglandin F2
levels tended to be increased (1714±761 versus 1475±606
ng/24 h for bezafibrate and placebo therapy, respectively;
P=0.11). VLDLs and LDLs were more resistant to
copper-induced oxidation in patients with HTG than in control subjects.
Bezafibrate reversed the oxidation resistance to the normal range. In
conclusion, these results indicate the following: (1) HTG is associated
with normal in vivo oxidative stress and enhanced ex vivo resistance of
lipoproteins to oxidation. (2) Bezafibrate reduces the resistance of
lipoproteins to copper-induced oxidation and enhances oxidative stress
in HTG patients.
Key Words: hypertriglyceridemia LDL oxidation VLDL oxidation F2-isoprostanes bezafibrate
| Introduction |
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Ex vivo, the peroxidation process can be mimicked by incubating isolated lipoproteins with the pro-oxidant Cu2+ and by measuring the production of conjugated dienes from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Earlier, we detected changes in susceptibility of lipoproteins to oxidation after supplementation with fish oil.5 Direct measurement of oxidation products is considered to be more indicative of in vivo oxidative stress. F2-Isoprostanes, chemically stable end products of lipid peroxidation, have emerged as a promising marker of oxidative stress.6 In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress results in a dose-dependent elevation of F2-isoprostane levels.7 8 Previous studies have demonstrated increased F2-isoprostane levels in smokers,9 diabetics,10 and hypercholesterolemic patients.11
The present study was undertaken to compare urinary levels of F2-isoprostanes and susceptibility of VLDLs and LDLs to oxidation in vitro between patients with endogenous HTG and control subjects. In addition, the effects of triglyceride-lowering therapy by bezafibrate were studied.
| Methods |
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Study Design
The patients were randomized to receive, in a double-blind
crossover fashion, bezafibrate (400 mg once daily) or placebo for 6
weeks. The 2 treatment periods were separated by a 6-week washout
period. Before and at the end of each treatment period, fasting venous
blood samples were obtained. From the control subjects, fasting blood
samples were obtained at baseline. Urinary
F2-isoprostane levels were determined in 24-hour
urine samples from the HTG patients, obtained at the end of both
treatment periods, and in overnight urine samples from the control
group. Informed consent was obtained from each participant, and the
protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of our
institution.
Lipid and Lipoprotein Analyses
Serum was obtained after centrifugation at
1500g for 15 minutes at room temperature. Three milliliters
of fresh serum was ultracentrifuged for 15 hours at
232 000g at 15°C in a TL-100 tabletop
ultracentrifuge, with use of a TLA-100.3 fixed-angle rotor
(Beckman). Ultracentrifugation yielded density
fractions of <1.006 and 1.006 to 1.25 g/mL, designated as the VLDL and
LDL-HDL fractions, respectively. HDL-C was measured in the LDL-HDL
fraction after precipitation with phosphotungstic acid and
MgCl2. Triglyceride, total
cholesterol, phospholipid, and free cholesterol
concentrations were measured enzymatically in the isolated HDL, LDL,
and VLDL fractions by use of commercially available kits
(Boehringer-Mannheim). Cholesteryl ester content was calculated
by subtracting the amount of free cholesterol from the
concentration of total cholesterol. Protein was determined
by the method of Lowry et al.13 VLDL diameter was
determined by photon correlation spectroscopy (Malvern Instruments).
LDL particle size was analyzed by gradient gel
electrophoresis.14
Fatty acid composition was determined by gas
chromatography after methylation of the fatty
acids.15 The total number of double bonds in VLDL and LDL
equaled the relative content of each fatty acid with
2 double bonds
times its number of double bonds. Monounsaturated
fatty acids (MUFAs) were not included in the calculation because they
are less susceptible to oxidation.
Vitamin E (
-,
-, and
-tocopherol) was assessed by
high-performance liquid chromatography with UV
detection at 292 nm.
Measurements of F2-Isoprostanes
Urine samples were stored in 5 mL aliquots at -80°C.
8-Isoprostaglandin F2
(iPF2
-III) levels were determined by use of
gas chromatographytandem mass
spectrometry.16 In addition,
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-8-isoprostaglandin
F2
(2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-iPF2
-III), the major
urinary metabolite of iPF2
-III, was measured
by use of the same method. Deuterium-labeled
iPF2
-III (1 ng/mL, Cayman Chemical) and
18O-labeled
ent-2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-iPF2
-III (1 ng/mL)
were used as internal standards.17 Interassay variation
was 6.8% for iPF2
-III and 6.0% for
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-iPF2
-III; intra-assay
variance was 6.5% for iPF2
-III and 4.0% for
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-iPF2
-III. To compare the
quantities of F2-isoprostanes excreted in urine
between control subjects and HTG patients,
F2-isoprostanes were corrected for
creatinine excretion in urine. Because bezafibrate is known
to increase urinary creatinine excretion,18
absolute levels of both F2-isoprostanes in
24-hour urine were compared between HTG patients on placebo and on
bezafibrate therapy. In 3 of 18 HTG patients, 24-hour urine collection
was incomplete; therefore, 15 paired data were available for absolute
F2-isoprostane analysis.
Oxidation of VLDL and LDL
Fasting venous blood, drawn in EDTA tubes, was
centrifuged within 1 hour for 15 minutes at 1500g at
4°C. The plasma samples were brought to a final concentration of 10%
(wt/vol) sucrose, capped under nitrogen, submerged in liquid nitrogen,
and stored at -80°C. The samples were analyzed within 6
months. Lipoproteins were separated by
ultracentrifugation at 4°C by use of standard
methods.5 19
Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation, with the use
of 0.1 mg/mL LDL and 40 µmol/L CuSO4, was
assayed by serial measurement of the conjugated dienes
formed.20 The same procedure was applied to VLDLs, but
with a lower protein concentration (0.03 mg/mL) to avoid
turbidity.5 The formation of conjugated dienes was
measured by monitoring the change in absorbance at 234 nm in a
spectrophotometer. Lag time and propagation rate were determined as
previously described.20 The total quantity of conjugated
dienes was expressed in nanomoles formed per milligram of VLDL or
LDL protein. The VLDL and LDL samples of a control subject and a
patient, during placebo and bezafibrate therapy, were oxidized on the
same day in 3 oxidation runs.
Statistical Analyses
Results are presented as mean±SD. Differences between
controls and patients were calculated by the Mann-Whitney U
test. Differences in categorical variables between patients and
controls were assessed by the Fisher exact test. Differences between
the patient group on placebo and bezafibrate therapy were evaluated
pairwise by the Wilcoxon paired signed rank test. Correlation
analysis was performed by Spearman rank correlation
analysis. A value of P<0.05 was considered
significant.
| Results |
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Effect of Bezafibrate Therapy on Serum Lipids and
Lipoproteins
All subjects concluded the study without any side effects. No
significant changes in body weight occurred. Treatment with placebo had
no effect on serum lipid levels (data not shown). Therefore, only the
values obtained at the end of both treatment periods were compared.
Bezafibrate therapy caused reductions in serum
triglyceride, cholesterol and VLDL-C levels and
increments in LDL-C and HDL-C levels (Table 2
).
F2-Isoprostane Levels and Lipoprotein Oxidation
Parameters
F2-Isoprostanes
Levels of urinary F2-isoprostanes were
similar in HTG patients and control subjects
(iPF2
-III, 99±45 versus 103±52
nmol/mol creatinine;
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-iPF2
-III, 281±134
versus 260±111 nmol/mol creatinine for HTG patients and
controls, respectively). Bezafibrate caused an increase in urinary
iPF2
-III levels (762±313 versus 552±245
ng/24 h for bezafibrate and placebo therapy, respectively;
P=0.03), whereas urinary
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-iPF2
-III levels tended
to be increased (1714±761 versus 1475±606 ng/24 h for bezafibrate and
placebo, respectively; P=0.11).
Positive correlations were observed between urinary levels of
iPF2
-III and
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-iPF2
-III expressed per
mole creatinine in the control group (r=0.781,
P<0.001) and between urinary
iPF2
-III and
2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-iPF2
-III concentrations
in the patient group on placebo (r=0.70,
P<0.001) and bezafibrate therapy (r=0.675,
P<0.001). No significant correlations were observed between
F2-isoprostanes and any of the lipids and
lipoproteins.
VLDL Oxidation
In the patient group, the lag time of VLDL oxidation was
significantly higher and the propagation rate of VLDL oxidation was
significantly lower than in the control group (Table 3
, Figure 1
). However, the maximum diene formation
in the HTG group was higher than in the control group. Bezafibrate
caused significant reductions in lag time and maximum diene
production, whereas the propagation rate was unaffected.
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LDL Oxidation
Oxidation characteristics of LDL paralleled that of VLDL. In
the patient group, the lag time of LDL oxidation was significantly
higher and the propagation rate of LDL oxidation was significantly
lower than in the control group (Table 3
, Figure 1
). The
maximum diene formation in the patient group was significantly lower
than in the control group. On bezafibrate therapy, the lag time of LDL
oxidation decreased, maximum diene formation increased, and the
propagation rate did not change.
Determinants of Ex Vivo Oxidation Parameters
VLDL Oxidation
VLDL size and composition differed markedly between the patient
and control groups (Table 4
). VLDL
particle size correlated with lag time (r=0.65,
P<0.001) and maximum diene formation (r=0.52,
P=0.001). The large VLDL particle size in HTG patients was
associated with an increased vitamin E quantity, which decreased on
bezafibrate therapy.
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VLDL of HTG patients on placebo contained more saturated fatty acids
(SFAs) and PUFAs than did VLDL of the control group (Table 4
).
However, the molar ratio of PUFA to SFA was lower in the patient group
on placebo (0.71±0.20) than in the control group (1.00±0.31,
P=0.03). The contributions of the individual fatty acids are
presented in Figure 2
. HTG VLDL
contained more palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) and less
-linolenic acid (C18:3
6), docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5
3), and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6
3) than did control VLDL.
Bezafibrate therapy significantly altered neither the molar ratio of
PUFA to SFA nor the number of double bonds in VLDL.
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In accordance with a previous report,5 the lag time of VLDL oxidation was inversely correlated with the total number of double bonds (pooled data, r=-0.72, P<0.001). The bezafibrate-induced change in lag time correlated inversely with the change in double bonds (r=-0.828, P<0.001). The propagation rate of VLDL oxidation correlated positively with the total number of double bonds in VLDL (pooled data, r=0.78, P<0.001).
LDL Oxidation
The LDL particles of the HTG patients were significantly
smaller (23.5±0.6 nm) than those of the control subjects (25.2±0.7
nm, P<0.001; Table 4
), and they increased in size on
bezafibrate therapy (24.4±1.1 nm, P=0.003). Neither LDL
size nor the vitamin E content of LDL was correlated with any of the
oxidation parameters.
Like VLDL, LDL of HTG patients was enriched in SFA compared with that
of control subjects (Table 4
). Accordingly, the ratio of PUFA to
SFA in LDL of the patient group (1.45±0.45) was lower than the ratio
in the control group (1.67±0.23, P=0.02). HTG LDL showed a
tendency to more myristic acid (14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), and
stearic acid (C18:0) than did control LDL (Figure 2
). However,
these differences did not reach statistical significance. The low
contribution of PUFA in HTG LDL was mainly attributable to linoleic
acid (C18:2
6). Bezafibrate therapy affected neither the ratio of
PUFA to SFA in LDL nor the number of double bonds in LDL.
The total number of double bonds in LDL correlated inversely with lag time of LDL oxidation (pooled data, r=-0.65, P<0.001) and positively with the propagation rate of LDL oxidation (pooled data, r=0.61, P=0.001).
| Discussion |
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When the susceptibility to oxidation in vitro of separate lipoproteins in HTG was studied, it was found that VLDL and LDL demonstrated increased oxidation resistance (lag times) and lower oxidation rates (propagation rates) in the HTG group than in the control group. These results indicate an increased resistance to oxidative stress in vitro in HTG. The maximum diene production may reflect the quantity of oxidizable lipid per lipoprotein, resulting in a higher maximum for VLDL and a lower maximum for LDL in the HTG group compared with the control group.
The vitamin E contents of the isolated lipoproteins paralleled lipoprotein size. Although vitamin E is regarded as a strong lipoprotein-associated antioxidant, no significant correlations were noted between vitamin E content and in vitro oxidation parameters in either the VLDL or the LDL fraction. The latter is in accordance with reports showing the same results in unsupplemented healthy control groups.19 21 It has been demonstrated that the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids is a more important determinant of the susceptibility of lipoproteins to oxidation than is their vitamin E content.22 23 Previously, we observed strong correlations between the number of double bonds in the lipoproteinfatty acid and oxidation parameters.5 In the present study, we observed a different fatty acid distribution between patients and control subjects. VLDL and LDL, isolated from HTG patients, contained a higher absolute amount of SFA and a lower relative amount of PUFA than did the corresponding lipoprotein fractions of control subjects, possibly explaining the higher resistance of VLDL and LDL to oxidation in HTG patients.
Differences in the dietary fatty acid composition cannot explain our data, because the HTG group was advised to increase the intake of PUFA at the expense of SFA as first-line therapy.12 Therefore, a higher intake of PUFA would be expected in the HTG group compared with the population-based control subjects.24 There are some indications that may explain these differences. First, hepatocytes synthesize preferably simple SFAs over more complex unsaturated fatty acids.25 Accordingly, an increased supply of substrates to the liver as encountered in HTG may lead to a higher incorporation of SFA compared with PUFA in triglycerides. Second, PUFAs decrease VLDL production, which may cause the liver to incorporate PUFA at a slower rate than SFA.26 Indeed, a decreased VLDL production has been reported in humans fed a diet rich in PUFA.27 A third explanation may be preferential lipolysis of triglycerides that are rich in PUFA, as demonstrated by Botham et al.28 Thus, in HTG patients, hydrolysis of PUFA might be preferred over hydrolysis of SFA. However, on bezafibrate therapy, no change in PUFA content in VLDL was observed, hereby questioning the latter explanation.
The LDL particles in the HTG patients were smaller than those in the control subjects. Unexpectedly, this small dense LDL was associated with an increased resistance to copper-induced oxidation. In addition, on bezafibrate therapy, LDL particle size enlarged, whereas LDL oxidizability increased. These observations are in conflict with reports suggesting that small LDL is particularly prone to oxidation.2 3 However, ONeal et al29 reported an increase in LDL size without any change in LDL oxidizability on gemfibrozil in patients with type II diabetes, and Makimattila et al30 showed the occurrence of decreased LDL size along with normal LDL oxidizability in diabetic patients compared with control subjects. These observations suggest that other determinants, such as fatty acid composition and vitamin E content, may be more important in determining LDL oxidizability than LDL size, per se, as discussed above.
There is controversy regarding the effects of fibrate therapy on
lipoprotein oxidizability. Some groups have reported an enhanced
resistance to oxidative stress,2 31 32 whereas others have
found no effect.33 34 F2-Isoprostane
levels have not been studied yet in relation to fibrate therapy.
Inasmuch as the present study showed that bezafibrate therapy was
associated with normalization of oxidation resistance of isolated
lipoproteins and an increase in urinary excretion of
F2-isoprostanes, these observations strongly
suggest that bezafibrate therapy increases lipid oxidation in HTG
patients. However, the underlying mechanism for bezafibrate-induced
enhanced oxidation is unclear. The bezafibrate-induced decrease in the
number of VLDL double bonds correlated significantly with the decrease
in VLDL lag time. However, only a minor reduction in VLDL double bonds
on bezafibrate therapy was observed, suggesting that other factors are
involved in the bezafibrate-induced enhanced oxidation. One of these
factors may be elevated levels of fasting homocysteine, which are
associated with enhanced in vivo lipid peroxidation as measured by
iPF2
-III.35 We observed, in
accordance with a study of Dierkes et al,36 an increase in
serum homocysteine on bezafibrate therapy,18 which might
contribute to the enhanced oxidation of lipoproteins.
In conclusion, we have found normal urinary levels of 2 F2-isoprostanes and an enhanced resistance of VLDL and LDL to in vitro oxidation in HTG patients, indicating that HTG is not associated with enhanced oxidative stress. The enhanced resistance of HTG lipoproteins to copper-induced oxidation may be explained by a low ratio of PUFA to SFA in VLDL and LDL of HTG patients. Bezafibrate therapy resulted in an increase in F2-isoprostanes and in normalization of the oxidation resistance of HTG lipoproteins.
| Acknowledgments |
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-III. Received April 12, 2000; accepted April 25, 2000.
| References |
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