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Biomedical subjects

B Angelin

Publications and source records attributed to B Angelin.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Combined treatment with cholestyramine and nicotinic acid in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: effects on biliary lipid composition.

In ten patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, combination therapy with cholestyramine and nicotinic acid was instituted for a minimum of 2 months. During therapy, plasma low-density lipoprotein levels were reduced by 32%, and low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein ratios by 40%. The cholesterol saturation of fasting gall-bladder bile was reduced by 33% during treatment. We conclude that long-term combination therapy with cholestyramine and nicotinic acid is practically feasible in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, normalizes plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in many patients, and does not result in unwanted side-effects on biliary lipids. It should therefore be considered as the therapy of choice in this condition.

Adult↗

Bile acids and plasma high density lipoproteins: biliary lipid metabolism in fish eye disease.

Cholesterol in plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) has been proposed to serve as preferential precursor for bile acid biosynthesis in the liver. Furthermore, a negative relationship between plasma levels of HDL cholesterol and biliary saturation with cholesterol has been reported in healthy females. We have performed metabolic studies on a female patient with fish eye disease, a familial condition where plasma HDL levels are reduced by 90% and the concentration of plasma triglycerides is moderately increased. Both the total production of bile acids and the net steroid 'balance' (reflecting total body cholesterol synthesis) were within the range seen in normolipidaemic as well as in hypertriglyceridaemic females. Also the biliary lipid composition and cholesterol saturation of bile were normal. A qualitative abnormality in the bile acid pattern was observed, however, in that the ratio between the synthesis of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid was reduced. It is concluded that a low HDL cholesterol level is not necessarily associated with quantitative abnormalities of biliary lipid metabolism. The abnormal bile acid synthesis ratio may reflect changes in the hepatic precursor pools of cholesterol as the consequence of HDL deficiency, however.

Aged↗

Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment in humans: effects on plasma and biliary lipid metabolism with special reference to very low density lipoprotein triglyceride and bile acid kinetics.

Ursodeoxycholic acid reduces biliary saturation with cholesterol and may induce dissolution of cholesterol gallstones in man. In order to characterize the effects of this potentially useful bile acid on plasma lipid metabolism, we determined lipoprotein levels and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride kinetics in six hypertriglyceridaemic and three normolipidaemic subjects before and after 4-6 weeks of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment at a daily dose of 15 mg kg-1 body weight. The plasma levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol were not significantly affected by therapy. Nor were the plasma level and apparent formation of VLDL triglycerides changed. In five subjects, the effects of a low dose (7.5 mg kg-1 body weight day-1 for 4-6 weeks) of ursodeoxycholic acid on biliary lipid composition and kinetics of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid were determined. The relative concentration of cholesterol in bile was reduced to the same level as during treatment with a high dose of ursodeoxycholic acid. The synthesis rates of bile acids were not suppressed with ursodeoxycholic acid. It is concluded that, unlike chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid does not suppress endogenous bile acid production. The efficiency at lower doses, and the lack of effects on plasma lipid metabolism, may make ursodeoxycholic acid a more attractive alternative for clinical attempts of gallstone dissolution.

Adult↗

Evidence against in vitro modulation of rat liver cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation: comparison with hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase.

The activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase in rat liver microsomes was investigated under conditions favourable for phosphorylation-dephosphorylation. The enzyme activity was similar in the presence or absence of sodium fluoride during preparation. Preincubation with ATP and magnesium did not affect the enzyme activity. Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase was inhibited by alkaline phosphatase, but this inhibition was similar also after inactivation of the phosphatase. Under similar conditions, rat hepatic hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase activity was clearly modulated in agreement with phosphorylation-dephosphorylation. The absence of such a modulation of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase argues against involvement of phosphorylation-dephosphorylation in the regulation of this enzyme.

Animals↗

Biliary colic without evidence of gallstones: diagnosis, biliary lipid metabolism and treatment.

Fifteen patients with history of biliary colic, induceable by cholecystokinin, but normal oral cholecystogram and ultrasonogram were studied prior to and after cholecystectomy. Fasting duodenal bile, obtained preoperatively after administration of cholecystokinin, and gallbladder bile obtained at operation were analyzed. The lipid composition as well as the cholesterol saturation were within the range seen in gallstone-free subjects. The total lipid concentration of gallbladder bile was normal, whereas that of duodenal bile was reduced by about 50%, indicating a less efficient gallbladder emptying. In 10 of the 15 patients, the analysis of the excised gallbladder displayed macro- or microscopic abnormalities; two patients had cholesterol gallstones. At re-examination 9-27 months after the operation, 12 of the patients were completely symptom-free and two patients reported a clear improvement while on still had unchanged symptoms. It is concluded that cholecystectomy is the treatment to prefer in patients with "acalculous" biliary pain, induceable by cholecystokinin.

Adult↗

Bile acid synthesis in man: assay of hepatic microsomal cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity by isotope dilution-mass spectrometry.

The present work describes an accurate assay of the rate-limiting enzyme in bile acid synthesis, the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, in human liver. The assay is based on isotope dilution-mass spectrometry, and endogenous microsomal cholesterol is used as the only substrate for the enzyme. Operative liver biopsies were obtained from patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy under highly standardized conditions. In ten gallstone patients, the enzyme activity of the microsomal fraction averaged 9.6 +/- 1.4 (mean +/- SEM) pmol X min-1 X mg protein-1 corresponding to a daily synthesis of about 0.5 mmol of bile acids. Three cholestyramine-treated patients displayed a four-fold higher enzyme activity. No evidence was obtained supporting the concept that the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase is modulated by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Influence of age on secretion of cholesterol and synthesis of bile acids by the liver.

Supersaturation of bile with cholesterol predisposes to the development of cholesterol gallstones. To identify the factors determining cholesterol saturation of bile, we analyzed the lipid composition of stimulated duodenal bile in 60 healthy subjects of various ages (31 men and 29 women) who were not obese and were free of gallstones. A positive correlation between age and cholesterol saturation of bile was found (P less than 0.001). To analyze the relation between age and cholesterol saturation, we studied the rates of hepatic secretion of biliary lipids and the kinetics of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid in 22 and 18 of the subjects, respectively. Age was positively correlated with the cholesterol secretion rate (r = 0.48) and negatively correlated with bile acid synthesis (r = -0.60) and the size of the cholic acid pool (r = -0.54). We conclude that cholesterol saturation of bile increases with age as a consequence of enhanced hepatic secretion of cholesterol and decreased bile acid synthesis. These findings may explain why age is a risk factor for the development of cholesterol gallstones.

Adult↗

Biliary lipid output and bile acid kinetics in cholesterol gallstone disease. Evidence for an increased hepatic secretion of cholesterol in Swedish patients.

Sweden has one of the highest incidences of gallstone disease in the Western world. It is therefore important to characterize the mechanisms responsible for the formation of cholesterol gallstones in this population. In the present study, we have determined the kinetics of the two primary bile acids, cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, and the hepatic secretion rates of the biliary lipids in 21 normolipidemic, nonobese gallstone patients (13 with functioning and 8 with nonfunctioning gallbladder) and in 23 healthy controls. The cholesterol saturation of fasting gallbladder bile averaged 110% in the gallstone patients with functioning gallbladder and 82% in the controls. The pool sizes of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid were reduced by about 40% in the two groups of gallstone patients, whereas the rates of synthesis were close to normal. The fractional catabolic rate of both bile acids was increased in both groups of gallstone patients. The gallstone patients with functioning gallbladder had an increased (about 50%) cholesterol secretion but normal bile acid and phospholipid secretion rates. In the gallstone patients with nonfunctioning gallbladder the secretion rates of biliary lipids were not significantly different from those of the controls. The ratio between cholesterol and bile acids was about 50% higher in the gallstone patients with functioning gallbladder than in the controls or in those with nonfunctioning gallbladder. The results indicate that the hepatic secretion of cholesterol is an important determinant for the development of saturated gallbladder bile in Swedish gallstone patients.

Adult↗

Serum concentrations of ursodeoxycholic acid in portal venous and systemic venous blood of fasting humans as determined by isotope dilution-mass spectrometry.

The fasting concentrations of ursodeoxycholic acid were determined in peripheral and portal venous serum of untreated (n = 12) and ursodeoxycholic acid-treated (n = 7) patients undergoing cholecystectomy. The levels of ursodeoxycholic acid were also determined in peripheral venous serum of 9 healthy subjects before and during treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid. Ursodeoxycholic acid, as well as cholic, chenodeoxycholic, and deoxycholic acids, were analyzed by a highly specific method based on isotope dilution-mass spectrometry. The fasting peripheral venous serum concentration of total (unconjugated plus conjugated) ursodeoxycholic acid averaged 0.14 mumol/L in the untreated gallstone patients and 0.19 mumol/L in the healthy subjects. The corresponding value in portal venous serum was 0.44 mumol/L. Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid raised the level of this bile acid about 25-fold in portal as well as in peripheral venous serum. The proportion of unconjugated ursodeoxycholic acid was 34% in portal and 49% in peripheral venous serum of treated subjects. The mean hepatic uptake of ursodeoxycholic acid was calculated to be about 60% both in untreated and treated subjects. This uptake was significantly lower than that of cholic acid (83%). The hepatic uptake of ursodeoxycholic acid also tended to be lower than that of chenodeoxycholic acid (68%). This was mainly due to a lower hepatic uptake of unconjugated ursodeoxycholic acid (34%) compared with unconjugated chenodeoxycholic acid (49%). The relatively low hepatic uptake of unconjugated ursodeoxycholic acid explains why serum levels of the administered bile acid are higher during treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid than during treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid. Our results also give evidence that the hepatic uptake of ursodeoxycholic acid cannot be saturated under physiologic conditions.

Adult↗

Plasma disappearance of 14C-glycocholic acid as a test of liver dysfunction. Relation to liver histology.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical usefulness of determining the plasma disappearance of 14C-glycocholic acid in the diagnosis of hepatic disease. This test was compared with the sulfobromophthalein test in 8 control subjects and 46 patients with abnormal liver histology (15 with fatty liver, 20 with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, 6 with primary biliary cirrhosis, and 5 with chronic hepatitis). The best distinction between controls and patients with liver disease was obtained by using the ratio between the plasma radioactivities at 45 and 2 min. However, even then, the 14C-glycocholic acid test had a very low sensitivity for the four groups of patients (0, 60, 50, and 40%, respectively) compared with the sulfobromophthalein test (73%, 90%, 67%, and 100% respectively). The lower sensitivity of the 14C-glycocholic acid test may be explained by the assumption that the clearance of a radioactive tracer dose is more dependent on liver blood flow than on liver function. This test is thus of little clinical value in separating patients with and without normal hepatic histology.

Adult↗

Effect of ciprofibrate treatment on biliary lipids in patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia.

Treatment with hypolipidaemic drugs such as clofibrate increases secretion of biliary cholesterol and induces supersaturation of bile, leading to an increased risk of gallstone formation. Ciprofibrate is a phenoxyisobutyrate derivative with lipid-lowering effects in hyperlipoproteinaemia. We analysed serum lipid levels and biliary lipid composition and cholesterol saturation of gallbladder bile in nineteen hyperlipoproteinaemic patients before and after 6 weeks treatment with ciprofibrate, 100 mg daily. In addition, hepatic secretion rates of biliary lipids were determined in eight of the patients. Ten of the patients were also studied after 1 year of treatment. Short-term treatment reduced the serum cholesterol levels by about 20% (P less than 0.001) and the serum triglycerides by about 40% (P less than 0.001). The relative cholesterol concentration and cholesterol saturation of bile were not significantly increased for the group as a whole, nor in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (n = 9), or with other types of hyperlipidaemia (n = 10). During treatment, however, fourteen patients had saturated bile compared with nine before treatment. An increase in cholesterol saturation was the consequence of an increased hepatic secretion of cholesterol whereas the secretion rates of bile acids and phospholipids were unaffected. After 1 year of treatment the serum lipid concentrations were reduced to about the same level as after 6 weeks, whereas biliary lipid composition and cholesterol saturation had returned to pre-treatment values. In contrast to clofibrate ciprofibrate exerts hypolipidaemic effects without consistently increasing the relative cholesterol concentration in bile. In some patients it leads to a transient rise in cholesterol saturation of gallbladder bile.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Triglyceride metabolism in human liver: studies on hepatic phosphatidic-acid phosphatase in obese and non-obese subjects.

According to current concepts, soluble phosphatidic-acid phosphatase, converting phosphatidic acid into a diglyceride, is a rate-limiting enzyme in the hepatic biosynthesis of triglycerides. The present paper is the first report on this enzyme in human liver. The enzyme activity was assayed in ammonium sulphate precipitates of cytosol obtained from human liver biopsies. The activity was stimulated by preincubation with alkaline phosphatase and inhibited by Mg-ATP, suggesting that phosphorylation-dephosphorylation may be of some importance for the expression of the activity of the enzyme. When assayed under optimal conditions, the activity obtained in liver biopsies from normal-weight gallstone patients averaged 12.8 +/- 2.0 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1 (mean +/- SEM) (n = 17). The enzyme activity was slightly higher in liver biopsies from morbidly obese subjects 16.4 +/- 2.8 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1 (n = 14). The difference between the two groups of subjects was probably in part sex-dependent and was not statistically significant. A similar small and insignificant difference between the two groups of subjects was found when the enzyme activity was assayed in the maximally stimulated state--i.e. after incubation with alkaline phosphate. These findings suggest that an increased capacity of the soluble phosphatidic-acid phosphatase is not of major importance for the increased triglyceride synthesis known to occur in obesity. Other factors (i.e. availability of substrate and cofactors) may be of greater importance.

Adult↗

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in human liver microsomes: active and inactive forms and cross-reactivity with antibody against rat liver enzyme.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis, exists in one active (dephosphorylated) and one inactive (phosphorylated) form in liver microsomes obtained from several animal species. The present study was undertaken in order to determine a) whether the human enzyme also exists in active and inactive readily interconvertible forms; b) whether the large inter-individual variation in HMG-CoA reductase activity observed in normal man can be explained by variations in the activation state of the enzyme; and c) to characterize the reactivity of antibodies raised against rat liver HMG-CoA reductase with the intact human microsomal enzyme. HMG-CoA reductase activity, assayed in microsomes prepared in the presence of 50 mM NaF, was only 17 +/- 3% of the activity observed in microsomes prepared from the same liver in the absence of fluoride. Preincubation of microsomes prepared in NaF with alkaline phosphatase resulted in a tenfold increase of enzyme activity, while the activity of microsomes prepared without fluoride was increased also (by about 45%) with this treatment. On the other hand, the activated enzyme could be inactivated by incubation of microsomes with Mg-ATP. In eleven normal weight, normolipidemic gallstone patients, the HMG-CoA reductase activity determined in microsomes prepared without NaF ("standard procedure") reflected well both the "expressed" activity (in microsomes prepared with NaF) and the "total" (fully activated) enzyme activity; correlation coefficients were +0.80 and +0.84, respectively. Preincubation of human liver microsomes with rabbit antiserum against partially purified HMG-CoA reductase from rat liver resulted in a 72 +/- 6% inhibition of enzyme activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies↗

Bile acid metabolism in hypothyroid subjects: response to substitution therapy.

Bile acid kinetics and biliary lipid composition were determined in ten hypothyroid patients before and after treatment with L-thyroxine. Hypothyroid patients had normal synthesis rates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid. Hormone treatment, which lowered plasma cholesterol by about 35%, stimulated the formation of chenodeoxycholic acid by about 40% but did not significantly change the synthesis of cholic acid or total primary bile acids. The mean relative biliary concentration of deoxycholic acid was decreased from 30% to 19% and that of chenodeoxycholic acid was concomitantly increased. Cholesterol saturation of bile was decreased by treatment in six of the patients, but the mean value before treatment (135 +/- 13%) was not significantly different from that obtained after treatment (108 +/- 9%). It is suggested that the hypocholesterolaemic effect of thyroid hormones is not primarily due to an increased degradation of cholesterol to bile acids. Similar to what is observed in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, the defective receptor mediated degradation of plasma low density lipoproteins in hypothyroidism is thus apparently associated with a quantitatively normal catabolic rate of cholesterol to bile acids.

Aged↗

Regulation of hepatic lipoprotein receptors in the dog. Rapid regulation of apolipoprotein B,E receptors, but not of apolipoprotein E receptors, by intestinal lipoproteins and bile acids.

Two distinct lipoprotein receptors can be expressed in the dog liver. One is the apolipoprotein (apo-) B,E receptor. This receptor binds apo-B-containing low density lipoproteins (LDL), as well as apo-E-containing lipoproteins, such as the cholesterol-induced high density lipoproteins (HDL(c)). The second hepatic lipoprotein receptor is the apo-E receptor. It binds apo-E HDL(c) and chylomicron remnants, but not LDL. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether short-term (acute) regulation of the two receptors can occur in response to perturbations in hepatic cholesterol metabolism. The design used three groups of experimental animals: (a) immature dogs (with both hepatic apo-B,E and apo-E receptors expressed), (b) adult dogs (with predominantly the apo-E receptor expressed and little detectable apo-B,E receptor binding activity), and (c) dogs treated with the bile acid sequestrant cholestyramine or those that have undergone biliary diversion (with apo-E receptors and induced apo-B,E receptors). In the first series of experiments, changes in hepatic lipoprotein receptor expression were studied by delivering cholesterol to the liver via intestinal lymph lipoproteins. Dog lymph (5-11 mg of triglycerides/min per kg of body weight, 0.15-0.3 mg of cholesterol/min per kg) or saline were infused intravenously for 6-8 h into matched pairs of dogs. Serial liver biopsies were obtained at intervals of 1-2 h. A progressive loss of specific (calcium-dependent) binding of LDL was seen in hepatic membranes from both immature and cholestyramine-treated dogs. After 4-6 h of lymph infusion, almost no apo-B,E receptor binding could be detected. The decrease in binding of apo-E HDL(c) to the same membranes was much less pronounced, and could be explained by a loss of binding of HDL(c) to the apo-B,E receptor; there was little or no effect on apo-E receptor binding. In the second series of experiments, the effects of a diminished hepatic demand for cholesterol on lipoprotein receptor expression were studied by suppressing bile acid synthesis. The bile acid taurocholate (2-3 mumol/kg per min) was infused intravenously over a 6-h interval. This resulted in a progressive loss of LDL binding to liver membranes of immature or cholestyramine-treated dogs. The infusion of taurocholate for 6 h did not significantly alter the expression of the apo-E receptor binding activity, whereas apo-B,E receptor activity was rapidly down-regulated. Preparation of a bile fistula in adult dogs markedly induced the expression of the apo-B,E receptor. In this state, the binding activity of the apo-B,E receptor could be almost totally abolished by reinfusion of taurocholate for 6 h, without profoundly affecting apo-E receptor binding. Evidence from the analysis of plasma lipoprotein patterns and tissue culture reactivity suggested that changes in assayed hepatic lipoprotein receptor activity occurred in concert with changes in plasma lipoproteins.The results indicate that the two canine hepatic lipoprotein receptors differ in their metabolic regulation. The apo-B,E receptor responds rapidly to changes in hepatic requirements for cholesterol. The apo-E receptor appears to be more refractory to acute regulation. The rapidity of the changes in the activity of the apo-B,E receptor (within 2-4 h) suggests that the binding activity of this receptor may be regulated by factors independent of protein synthesis.

Animals↗

Comparative effects of ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid on bile acid kinetics and biliary lipid secretion in humans. Evidence for different modes of action on bile acid synthesis.

The effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on biliary lipid secretion and bile acid kinetics were determined in 12 men. For comparison, eight of the subjects were also treated with chenodeoxycholic acid using a crossover study design. The daily dose of each bile acid was 15 mg/kg body wt; each treatment period lasted for 5-6 wk. Kinetics of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, hepatic secretion rates of biliary lipids, and lipid composition of concentrated fasting duodenal bile were determined before and at the end of each treatment period. The synthesis rates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid were increased by approximately 80% and 40%, respectively, during treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid. The fractional catabolic rates of the two bile acids were increased by approximately 50%, whereas the pool sizes remained unchanged. Under similar conditions, administration of chenodeoxycholic acid reduced the pool size as well as the synthesis rate of cholic acid by approximately 70%. Ursodeoxycholic acid reduced the hepatic secretion of cholesterol to a higher extent (approximately 50%) than did chenodeoxycholic acid (approximately 30%). The secretion rates of bile acids and phospholipids remained essentially unchanged during the two treatment periods. Fasting duodenal (gallbladder) bile was unsaturated with cholesterol during both regimens. It is concluded that the two bile acids exert different effects on bile acid metabolism. The enhanced conversion of cholesterol to bile acids observed during ursodeoxycholic acid treatment may at least partly explain why ursodeoxycholic acid can reduce the biliary output of cholesterol without suppressing hepatic cholesterol synthesis.

Bile↗

Opposite effects of different plasma lipoprotein fractions on granulocyte function.

Different plasma lipoprotein fractions in physiological concentrations have opposite effects on the phagocytosis and migration of human neutrophilic granulocytes. Preincubation for half an hour with very low density lipoproteins decreased the phagocytosis as well as the chemotactic and random migrations of the cells, while preincubation with high density lipoproteins increased the same functions. No effects were seen with low density lipoproteins. It is suggested that disturbances in plasma lipoprotein pattern may affect the function of phagocytes.

Cell Movement↗