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Biomedical subjects

C B Blum

Publications and source records attributed to C B Blum.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Apolipoprotein E synthesis in human kidney, adrenal gland, and liver.

Human tissues were incubated in vitro with radiolabeled amino acids to determine whether plasma apolipoproteins are synthesized in human kidney. Subsequently, tissue extracts were screened with antisera directed against apolipoprotein E (apo E), apolipoprotein B (apo B), apolipoprotein AI (apo AI), and bulk apolipoproteins of high density lipoprotein (HDL). Newly synthesized apo E, but not apo AI or apo B, was identified in kidney and adrenal cortex. Estimates of relative rates of apo E synthesis in vitro suggest that a substantial portion of adrenal and kidney protein synthesis is committed to apo E synthesis. The relative rate of apo E synthesis was 4-6 times greater in kidney cortex than in kidney medulla. Analysis of immunoreactive apo E showed that kidney and adrenal apo E species have the same electrophoretic mobility in NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels as does plasma apo E. Further characterization by high resolution two-dimensional gel analysis indicated that the isoforms of newly synthesized kidney and adrenal apo E correspond to specific isoforms of plasma apo E. These findings suggest that apolipoproteins arising from peripheral tissues may play an important role in lipid transport and metabolism.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1983

Incorporation of radioactive phospholipid into subclasses of high-density lipoproteins.

The incorporation of orally administered phospholipid into plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDL) was studied in three subjects. Plasma was analyzed by equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation, 5, 6, and 8 h after ingestion of 1.1 g [3H-choline, 14C-dilinoleoyl]phosphatidylcholine. At all time points in all subjects, there was a peak of phosphatidylcholine specific activity in fractions of density approximately 1.10-1.13 g/ml, corresponding to the subclass previously designated HDL2a. There was also a more variable, smaller peak of specific activity of phospholipids in HDL2b (1.063-1.100 g/ml) and in fractions of density approximately 1.19 g/ml. In the 1.10-1.13 fraction, 97 and 71%, respectively, of the 3H and 14C radioactivity were in phospholipids. The 3H/14C ratio was similar in phospholipids of HDL subfractions, the d less than 1.07 fraction, and in the administered phospholipid. The results show preferential transfer or exchange or absorbed phosphatidylcholine into specific subclasses of HDL.

Cholesterol Esters↗
PubMed1983

Identification of a new structural variant of human apolipoprotein E, E2(Lys146 leads to Gln), in a type III hyperlipoproteinemic subject with the E3/2 phenotype.

A type III hyperlipoproteinemic subject having the apolipoprotein E (apo E) phenotype E3/2 was identified. From isoelectric focusing experiments in conjunction with cysteamine treatment (a method that measures cysteine content in apo E), the E2 isoform of this subject was determined to have only one cysteine residue, in contrast to all previously studied E2 apoproteins, which had two cysteines. This single cysteine was shown to be at residue 112, the same site at which it occurs in apo E3. From amino acid and sequence analyses, it was determined that this apo E2 differed from apo E3 by the occurrence of glutamine rather than lysine at residue 146. When phospholipid X protein recombinants of the subject's isolated E3 and E2 isoforms were tested for their ability to bind to the human fibroblast apo-B,E receptor, it was found that the E3 bound normally (compared with an apo E3 control) but that the E2 had defective binding (approximately 40% of normal). Although they contained E3 as well as E2, the beta-very low density lipoproteins (beta-VLDL) from this subject were very similar in character to the beta-VLDL from an E2/2 type III hyperlipoproteinemic subject; similar subfractions could be obtained from each subject and were shown to have a similar ability to stimulate cholesteryl ester accumulation in mouse peritoneal macrophages. The new apo E2 variant has also been detected in a second type III hyperlipoproteinemic subject.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Independent effects of dietary saturated fat and cholesterol on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoprotein E.

Nine normolipidemic males (18-37 years) were fed formula diets containing (as % of calories) egg white protein (15%), glucose polymer:sucrose, 3:1 (54%), and fats (31%) as one of the following: corn oil (corn), corn oil plus 1 gram/day cholesterol (corn+), coconut oil (coco), coconut oil plus 1 gram/day cholesterol (coco+). Two dietary periods of 18 days each were separated by 1 month during which plasma lipid levels returned to prestudy values. A given dietary period consisted of 9 days of either corn or coco feeding allowed by 9 days of corn+ or coco+, respectively. Fasting plasma samples were taken the last 3 days of each 9-day interval. Lipids were determined by standard procedures and the apoE levels in lipoprotein fractions isolated by discontinuous density gradient ultracentrifugation were determined by radioimmunoassay. The biochemical variables measured were: total plasma, VLDL, IDL + LDL, and HDL, cholesterol, triglyceride, and apoE levels, as well as the apoE of plasma d greater than 1.17 g/ml. The effects of apoE phenotype, the type of dietary oil (corn versus coco), the presence or absence of dietary cholesterol, and the day of sampling within triplicates on the above variables were assessed statistically. The type of oil had the only significant effect on any variable. At P less than 0.01, the coconut oil diets were associated with significant elevations (as compared to corn oil) of the following nine variables: total, VLDL, IDL + LDL, and HDL cholesterol; total, VLDL, and IDL + LDL apoE; total and VLDL triglycerides.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Changes in the distribution and composition of plasma high density lipoproteins after ingestion of fat.

Following ingestion of a fatty meal there is an increase in concentration of phospholipids and proteins in the plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL). To evaluate the resulting changes in HDL subclasses, the plasma HDL of six subjects were analyzed 4 to 8 h after ingestion of 100 ml of corn oil or 80 ml of corn oil with four eggs. Isopycnic density gradient ultracentrifugation of fasting plasma showed two broad components of HDL: a major peak of density (d) 1.11 to 1.17 g/ml (HDL3) and a smaller peak of d 1.07 to 1.11 g/ml (HDL2). Following ingestion of either type of fatty meal, there was an increase in lipoprotein mass in both peaks of HDL and their centers of mass were shifted to lower density (1.140 leads to 1.120 to 1.130 g/ml; 1.095 leads to 1.090 g/ml). Calculation of changes in HDL concentration (lipemic minus fasting) showed that the alterations in density gradient profile were due to a major increase in lipoproteins of d 1.102 to 1.137 g/ml, a smaller increase in a separate lipoprotein peak of 1.080 to 1.102 g/ml, and a small decrease in lipoproteins of d 1.137 to 1.165 g/ml. Redistribution of HDL mass into larger, less dense lipoproteins was also demonstrated by agarose gel chromatography or by minimal spin density gradient ultracentrifugation in a vertical rotor. The increase in mass of 1.080 to 1.102 lipoproteins was largely due to increased concentrations of phospholipid, cholesterol ester, and apoA-I, while the increase in 1.102 to 1.137 lipoproteins was due to increased concentrations of apoA-I, apoA-II, phospholipids, cholesterol, and cholesterol esters. Analytical ultracentrifugation of representative samples within these density intervals showed lipoprotein species with molecular weights and sedimentation coefficients, respectively, of 378,000, 5.8 (d 1.080 to 1.095); 248,000, 3.5 (d 1.110 to 1.120); and 173,000, 1.6 (d 1.135 to 1.150). Polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis showed that the 1.080 to 1.102 lipoproteins contained a single lipoprotein band of diameter approximately 10.7 nm; the 1.102 to 1.137 lipoproteins contained a single band which varied in size fro 10.0 to 9.2 nm: and the 1.137 to 1.165 lipoproteins contained three species of diameters approximately 9.2, 8.8, and 8.2 nm. Within density intervals, the molecular weights, sedimentation coefficients, and diameters of the different lipoproteins were similar in fasting and lipemic plasma. Calculation of average molecular compositions shows that the major incremental HDL of d approximately 1.12 g/ml could be derived by addition of lipids to the largest species of fasting HDL3. Within density intervals, the particle contents of apoA-I and apoA-II were unchanged during lipemia, suggesting that apoprotein transfer causes interconversion of existing HDL species or formation of new particles with the same content of apoA-I and apoA-II as existing species.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Role of apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins in abetalipoproteinemia.

Detailed studies of apolipoprotein E (apoE)-containing lipoproteins in abetalipoproteinemia have been performed in an attempt to resolve the apparent paradox of a suppressed low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor pathway in the absence of apoB-containing lipoproteins. It was hypothesized that apoE-containing high density lipoproteins (HDL) in abetalipoproteinemia might functionally substitute for LDL in regulation of cholesterol metabolism in these patients. The mean (+/-standard deviation) plasma concentration of apoE in nine patients with abetalipoproteinemia was 44.8+/-8.2 mug/ml, slightly higher than the corresponding value for a group of 50 normal volunteers, 36.3+/-11 mug/ml. Fractionation of plasma lipoproteins by agarose column chromatography or by ultracentrifugation indicated that in abetalipoproteinemia, plasma apoE was restricted to a subfraction of HDL. This was in contrast to the results obtained with plasma from 30 normal volunteers, in whom apoE was distributed between very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and HDL. Consequently, the mean apoE content of HDL in abetalipoproteinemia (44.8 mug/ml) was more than twice that found in the normal volunteers (20.3 mug/ml).ApoE-rich and apoE-poor subfractions of HDL(2) were isolated by heparin-agarose affinity chromatography. ApoE comprised a mean of 81% of the protein mass of the apoE-rich subfraction. Compared with the apoE-poor subfraction, the apoE-rich HDL(2) was of larger mean particle diameter (141+/-7 vs. 115+/-15 A) and had a higher ratio of total cholesterol/protein (1.01+/-0.11 vs. 0.63+/-0.14). Plasma and HDL fractions from three patients were studied with respect to their ability to compete with (125)I-LDL in specific binding to receptors on cultured human fibroblasts. The binding activity of plasma from patients (per milligram of protein) was about half that of plasma from normal volunteers. All binding activity in the patients' plasma was found to reside in the HDL fraction. The binding activity of the patients' HDL (on a total protein basis) was intermediate between that of normal HDL and normal LDL. However, the large differences in binding between patients' HDL and normal HDL entirely disappeared when data were expressed in terms of the apoE content of these lipoproteins. This suggested that the binding activity was restricted to that subfraction of HDL particles that contain apoE. These apoE-rich HDL particles had calculated binding potencies per milligram of protein 10-25 times that of normal LDL. Direct binding studies using (125)I-apoE-rich HDL(2) and (125)I-apoE-poor HDL(2), confirmed the suggestion that binding is restricted to the subfraction of HDL particles containing apoE. The apoE-rich HDL(2) were found to be very potent inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in cultured fibroblasts, providing direct evidence of the ability of these lipoproteins to regulate cholesterol metabolism. On the basis of binding potencies of apoE-rich HDL, apoE concentrations, and the composition of apoE-rich HDL, it could be calculated that apoE-rich HDL in abetalipoproteinemia have a capacity to deliver cholesterol to tissues via the LDL receptor pathway equivalent to an LDL concentration of 50-150 mg/dl of cholesterol. Thus, these apoE-rich lipoproteins are capable of producing the suppression of cholesterol synthesis and LDL receptor activity previously observed in abetalipoproteinemia.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗
PubMed1982

Apolipoprotein localization and quantitation in the human intestine.

Apolipoproteins B, A-I, and A-IV were localized in human intestinal epithelium using immunoperoxidase techniques. Staining was most obvious in villus tip cells. Lipid absorption resulted in an increase in intraepithelial staining for each apoprotein. The pattern for apo-B in the biopsy specimens taken after lipid absorption revealed a marked redistribution of staining to the intercellular spaces and an increase in the supranuclear staining of apo-A-I and apo-A-IV. After lipid absorption, staining appeared to extend further down the villus than in the fasting biopsy specimens. Quantitation of apo-A-I and apo-A-IV in isolated epithelial cells confirmed that the mass of these apoproteins increases in response to lipid absorption. Apolipoprotein B and apo-A-I were absent in the epithelium of 3 patients with abetalipoproteinemia while apo-A-IV was present in 2 patients. These studies demonstrate differences in the localization and quantitation of apoproteins in the villus-crypt unit as well as differences in the localization pattern of the different apoproteins.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗
PubMed1982

Dynamics of apolipoprotein E metabolism in humans.

The dynamics of human apoE metabolism were explored by examining the effects of alimentary lipemia and postheparin lipolysis on the plasma level and lipoprotein distribution of apoE. In the studies of alimentary lipemia, fasting and postprandial plasma samples were obtained from five normal adult males, each of whom drank 100 g of corn oil. Although no change in the plasma concentration of apoE accompanied alimentary lipemia, a major redistribution of apoE among lipoproteins occurred. The portion of apoE associated with triglyceride-rich lipoproteins as assessed by agarose column chromatography increased by a mean of 44%. Furthermore, in the two subjects in whom multiple postprandial samples were taken, there were striking linear correlations between plasma triglyceride concentrations and the fraction of apoE in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (r = 0.96 and 0.73). In contrast, the plasma concentration of apoE fell in each of the seven studies of postheparin lipolysis. The fall averaged 17% of the control plasma apoE level. In hypertriglyceridemic patients, the decline in plasma triglyceride concentration preceded the decline in apoE concentration, suggesting that the decline in apoE was due to removal of remnants of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Lipoprotein fractionation demonstrated substantial loss of apoE from triglyceride-rich lipoproteins; the data suggested that this loss of apoE from triglyceride-rich lipoproteins was due both to removal of apoE from plasma and to transfer of apoE to an HDL fraction. During the recovery phase, as plasma triglyceride levels rose, opposite changes occurred: the plasma apoE level rose, apoE in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins increased in concentration, and apoE in HDL decreased in concentration. Furthermore, it became apparent during the recovery phase that apoE in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins was composed of two discrete subfractions. The first subfraction consisted of apoE on larger, probably recently synthesized lipoproteins; the second consisted of apoE on much smaller lipoproteins. These studies provide evidence in intact humans for a dynamic traffic of apoE between triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein. This traffic is a prominent phenomenon of normal alimentary lipemia and of lipolysis. By modulating the lipoprotein distribution of apoE, it probably plays a key functional role in lipoprotein metabolism.-Blum, C. B. Dynamics of apolipoprotein E metabolism in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Radioimmunoassay studies of human apolipoprotein E.

This report describes the development and first applications of a sensitive and specific double antibody radioimmunoassay for human apoplipoprotein E (apoE). ApoE was purified from the very low density lipoproteins of hypertriglyceridemic patients by heparin-agarose affinity chromatography, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified apoprotein had an amino acid composition characteristic of apoE and resulted in the production of monospecific antisera when injected into rabbits. The radioimmunoassay, which was carried out in the presence of 5 mM sodium decyl sulfate, had a working range of 0.8-12 ng. The withinassay coefficient of variation was 9% and the coefficient of variation for systematic between-assay variability was 3%. Prior delipidation of samples with organic solvents did not alter their immunoreactivity. In 26 normal volunteers, the mean plasma apoE concentration was 36 +/- 13 microgram/ml. Hyperlipidemic patients (n = 68) had higher mean apoE levels. A single patient with type III hyperlipoproteinemia had a plasma apoE level of 664 microgram/ml. The plasma apoE level was independently related to plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a population of 108 normal and nonchylomicronemic hyperlipidemic patients. The multiple correlation coefficient for this relationship was 0.73. Thus, variation in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations described 53% of the variation in apoE concentrations in this population. The lipoprotein distribution of apoE was investigated by agarose column chromatography and ultracentrifugation of plasma. Agarose column chromatography demonstrated that all or nearly all plasma apoE is associated with lipoproteins. In plasma from normal volunteers and hypercholesterolemic patients, apoE was found in two discrete lipoprotein classes: very low density lipoproteins and a set of lipoprotein particles with size and density characteristics similar to HDL2. In hypertriglyceridemic patients, nearly all apoE was associated with the triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Human intestinal lipoproteins. Studies in chyluric subjects.

To explore the role of the human intestine as a source of apolipoproteins, we have studied intestinal lipoproteins and apoprotein secretion in two subjects with chyluria (mesenteric lymphatic-urinary fistulae). After oral corn oil, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and apolipoprotein A-II (apoA-II) output in urine increased in parallel to urinary triglyceride. One subject, on two occasions, after 40 g of corn oil, excreted 8.4 and 8.6 g of triglyceride together with 196 and 199 mg apoA-I and on one occasion, 56 mg apoA-II. The other subject, after 40 g corn oil, excreted 0.3 g triglyceride and 17.5 mg apoA-I, and, after 100 g of corn oil, excreted 44.8 mg apoA-I and 5.8 mg apoA-II. 14.5+/-2.1% of apoA-I and 17.7+/-4.3% of apoA-II in chylous urine was in the d < 1.006 fraction (chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein). Calculations based on the amount of apoA-I and apoA-II excreted on triglyceride-rich lipoproteins revealed that for these lipid loads, intestinal secretion could account for 50 and 33% of the calculated daily synthetic rate of apoA-I and apoA-II, respectively. Similarly, subject 2 excreted 48-70% and 14% of the calculated daily synthetic rate of apoA-I and apoA-II, respectively. Chylous urine contained chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins, all of which contained apoA-I. Chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins contained a previously unreported human apoprotein of 46,000 mol wt. We have called this apoprotein apoA-IV because of the similarity of its molecular weight and amino acid composition to rat apoA-IV. In sodium dodecyl sulfate gels, chylomicron apoproteins consisted of apoB 3.4+/-0.7%, apoA-IV 10.0+/-3.3%, apoE 4.4+/-0.3%, apoA-I 15.0+/-1.8%, and apoC and apoA-II 43.3+/-11.3%. Very low density lipoprotein contained more apoB and apoA-IV and less apoC than chylomicrons. Ouchterlony immunodiffusion of chylomicron apoproteins revealed the presence of apoC-I, apoC-II, and apoC-III. In contrast, plasma chylomicrons isolated during a nonchyluric phase revealed a markedly altered chylomicron apoprotein pattern when compared with urinary chylomicrons. The major apoproteins in plasma chylomicrons were apoB, apoE, and the C peptides: no apoA-I or apoA-IV were present in sodium dodecyl sulfate gels indicating that major changes in chylomicron apoproteins occur during chylomicron metabolism. When incubated in vitro with plasma, urinary chylomicrons lost apoA-I and apoA-IV and gained apoE and apoC. Loss of apoA-I and apoA-IV was dependent upon the concentration of high density lipoproteins in the incubation mixture. These studies demonstrate that the human intestine secretes significant amounts of apoA-I and apoA-II during lipid absorption. Subsequent transfer of apoproteins from triglyceride-rich lipoproteins to other plasma lipoproteins may represent a mechanism whereby the intestine contributes to plasma apoprotein levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Metabolism of high-density lipoprotein apolipoproteins in Tangier disease.

To define the metabolic defect in Tangier disease, we studied the kinetics of [125I]-high-density lipoprotein apolipoproteins (apolipoproteins A-I and A-II) in 11 normal subjects, two obligate heterozygotes, and two homozygotes. Mean synthesis of apolipoproteins A-1 and A-11 was 8.24 mg per kilogram per day in the normal group, 7.94 in heterozygotes and 3.66 in homozygotes. The mean plasma-residence time for both apolipoproteins was 5.21 days in the normal subjects, 3.41 days in heterozygotes, and 0.52 days in homozygotes. In normal subjects and heterozygotes the apolipoproteins were catabolized at similar rates, whereas in homozygotes apolipoprotein A-I was catabolized at a much greater fractional rate than apolipoprotein A-II. These findings indicate that the deficiency of these apolipoproteins in Tangier disease is largely due to rapid and altered catabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

High density lipoprotein metabolism in man.

The turnover of (125)I-high density lipoprotein (HDL) was examined in a total of 14 studies in eight normal volunteers in an attempt to determine the metabolic relationship between apolipoproteins A-I (apoA-I) and A-II (apoA-II) of HDL and to define further some of the determinants of HDL metabolism. All subjects were first studied under conditions of an isocaloric balanced diet (40% fat, 40% carbohydrate). Four were then studied with an 80% carbohydrate diet, and two were studied while receiving nicotinic acid (1 g three times daily) and ingesting the same isocaloric balanced diet. The decay of autologous (125)I-HDL and the appearance of urinary radioactivity were followed for at least 2 wk in each study. ApoA-I and apoA-II were isolated by Sephadex G-200 chromatography from serial plasma samples in each study. The specific activities of these peptides were then measured directly. It was found that the decay of specific activity of apoA-I and apoA-II were parallel to one another in all studies. The mean half-life of the terminal portion of decay was 5.8 days during the studies with a balanced diet.Mathematical modeling of the decay of plasma radioactivity and appearance of urinary radioactivity was most consistent with a two-compartment model. One compartment is within the plasma and exchanges with a nonplasma component. Catabolism occurs from both of these compartments. With a balanced isocaloric diet, the mean synthetic rate for HDL protein was 8.51 mg/kg per day. HDL synthesis was not altered by the high carbohydrate diet and was only slightly decreased by nicotinic acid treatment. These perturbations had effects on HDL catabolic pathways that were reciprocal in many respects. With an 80% carbohydrate diet, the rate of catabolism from the plasma compartment rose by a mean of 39.1%; with nicotinic acid treatment, it fell by 42.2%. Changes in the rate of catabolism from the second compartment were generally opposite those in the rate of catabolism from the plasma compartment, suggesting that these two catabolic pathways may be reciprocally regulated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Cholestyramine: an effective, twice-daily dosage regimen.

Nine patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (type II hyperlipoproteinemia) and two normal volunteers were studied to ascertain the effectiveness of cholestyramine in lowering plasma cholesterol when a twice-a-day dosage regimen was compared with the same total dosage administered four times a day. The study showed that in these subjects the two regimens were equally effective. The ability to administer cholestyramine twice daily in working adults and school children should greatly enhance adherence to this agent.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Metabolism of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid in lead-poisoned children and normal adults.

Meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA, or succimer) is an oral chelating agent for heavy-metal poisoning. While studying the urinary elimination of unaltered DMSA, altered DMSA (i.e., its mixed disulfides), and lead in children with lead poisoning, we observed a pattern of urinary drug elimination after meals suggestive of enterohepatic circulation. The excretion of lead in urine patterned the elimination of altered DMSA rather than the parent molecule. In addition, the half-life of elimination of DMSA via the kidney was positively associated with blood lead concentration. Two additional crossover studies of DMSA kinetics were conducted in normal adults to confirm the presence of enterohepatic circulation of DMSA after meals. In one, increases in plasma total DMSA concentration were observed after meals in all six subjects; these increases were prevented by cholestyramine administration 4, 8, and 12 hr after DMSA. In the second, the administration of neomycin also prevented increases in DMSA after meals. These studies indicate that 1) a metabolite(s) of DMSA undergoes enterohepatic circulation and that microflora are required for DMSA reentry; 2) in children, moderate lead exposure impairs renal tubular drug elimination; and 3) a metabolite of DMSA appears to be an active chelator.

Adult↗