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D S Leake

Publications and source records attributed to D S Leake.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

The effects of pH on the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein by copper and metmyoglobin are different.

The amplification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation in vitro by copper and myoglobin are well-studied biochemical approaches for investigating the oxidative modification of LDL and its role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Since the acidity of the environment is increased in inflammatory sites, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acidic pH on the oxidisability of LDL mediated by the haem protein myoglobin in comparison with that of copper-mediated LDL oxidation. The results show that acidic pH enhances myoglobin-mediated LDL oxidation as measured by conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides and electrophoretic mobility, whilst a retardation is observed with copper as pro-oxidant; the mechanism probably relates to the effects of pH on the decomposition and formation of lipid hydroperoxides and the relative influences of copper ions and of myoglobin under these conditions.

Copper↗
PubMed1997

Does an acidic pH explain why low density lipoprotein is oxidised in atherosclerotic lesions?

The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) within atherosclerotic lesions may be involved in atherogenesis. LDL oxidation by cells in the presence of iron is faster at acidic pH. In addition, LDL oxidation by iron alone or iron cysteine in the absence of cells is much faster at acidic pH, even at mildly acidic pH (pH 6.5). The effect of pH on LDL oxidation by copper ions is more complex, in that acidity slows down the initial oxidation, as measured by conjugated dienes, hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, but can increase the later stages of LDL oxidation as measured by increased macrophage uptake. Extensive LDL oxidation by cells in atherosclerotic lesions probably requires a source of iron or copper as catalysts for the oxidation. Iron in plasma is carried by the protein transferrin. Lowering the pH releases some of the iron from transferrin so that it can catalyse LDL oxidation. Copper is carried in plasma on caeruloplasmin and becomes more effective in catalysing LDL oxidation when the caeruloplasmin is preincubated at acidic pH, or even at pH 7.0. These effects can be seen with concentrations of caeruloplasmin and transferrin below those present in plasma. By analogy to other inflammatory and ischaemic sites, atherosclerotic lesions may well have an acidic extracellular pH, particularly within clusters of macrophages where the oxidative stress may also be high. This localised acidic pH may help to explain why atherosclerotic lesions are one of the few sites in the body where extensive LDL oxidation occurs.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1997

Modulation of vascular tone by low density lipoproteins: effects on L-arginine transport and nitric oxide synthesis.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) plays an important role in atherogenesis. Focal accumulation within the arterial intima of excess amounts of cholesterol-rich LDL leads to the migration and recruitment of monocytes, which then differentiate into macrophages after taking up large amounts of oxidatively modified LDL via their scavenger receptors and become lipid-laden 'foam cells' within the subendothelial space. It is generally accepted that oxidized LDL and hyperlipidaemia impair endothelial-dependent vascular relaxation, yet the existing literature on the effects of oxidatively modified LDL on endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) release is inconclusive, since oxidized LDL has been reported to enhance or reduce NO and PGI2 production. Our studies using cultured human endothelial and smooth muscle cells have established that basal rates of L-arginine (NO precursor) transport, NO and PGI2 production and soluble guanylyl cyclase activity are unaffected by pretreatment (for 1 or 24 h) with native LDL, or with mildly or highly oxidized LDL. In contrast, highly oxidized LDL inhibited histamine-stimulated release of NO and PGI2 from human endothelial cells and induced an adaptive increase in the level of intracellular glutathione in human smooth muscle cells, a response which was prevented by the chain-breaking antioxidant alpha-tocopherol. Although initial rates of L-arginine transport and basal NO and PGI2 release from human endothelium are unaffected by oxidized LDL, agonist-stimulated release of these vasodilators is markedly attenuated. Elucidation of the mechanisms regulating these responses and their sensitivity to dietary antioxidants could lead to alternative strategies for reducing atherogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The effects of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate on the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein.

Ascorbate at concentrations of 60-100 microM inhibits the modification of freshly prepared low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by macrophages. With 'moderately oxidized' LDL (produced by prolonged storage in a refrigerator), however, ascorbate does not inhibit LDL modification by macrophages and actually modifies the LDL itself in the absence of macrophages [Stait and Leake (1994) FEBS Lett. 341, 263-267]. We have now shown that dehydroascorbate can modify both 'fresh' LDL and moderately oxidized LDL in a dose-dependent manner to increase its uptake by macrophages. The modification of moderately oxidized LDL by ascorbate and dehydroascorbate or of 'fresh' LDL by dehydroascorbate is dependent on the presence of iron or copper. In 'fresh' LDL, ascorbate inhibited conjugated-diene formation by copper. In moderately oxidized LDL, the number of conjugated dienes present was decreased rapidly in the presence of copper and ascorbate. Dehydroascorbate decreased the lag phase and increased the rate of copper-induced conjugated-diene formation in 'fresh' LDL (although in some experiments it inhibited the formation of conjugated dienes). The ascorbate-modified moderately oxidized LDL was taken up by macrophages by their scavenger receptors, as the uptake was inhibited by polyinosinic acid or fucoidan. Ascorbate and dehydroascorbate therefore have the potential to increase LDL oxidation under certain conditions, but whether or not they do so in vivo is unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Non-oxidative modification of native low-density lipoprotein by oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, although little is known as yet about the precise mechanism of oxidation in vivo. The studies presented here demonstrate that, in the absence of cells or transition metals, oxidized LDL can modify native LDL through co-incubation in vitro such as to increase its net negative charge, in a concentration-dependent manner. The interaction is not inhibited by peroxyl radical scavengers or metal chelators, precluding the possibility that the modification of native LDL by oxidized LDL is through an oxidative process. Studies with radioiodinated oxidized LDL showed no transfer of radioactivity to the native LDL, demonstrating that fragmentation of protein and the transfer of some of the fragments does not account for the modified charge on the native LDL particle. The adjacency of native to oxidized LDL in the arterial wall may be a potential mechanism by which the altered recognition properties of the apolipoprotein B-100 may arise rapidly without oxidation or extensive modification of the native LDL lipid itself.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1995

Transition metal ions within human atherosclerotic lesions can catalyse the oxidation of low density lipoprotein by macrophages.

The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the arterial wall may contribute to atherogenesis. The oxidation of LDL by cells usually requires catalytically active transition metal ions. We show here some that gruel samples from human advanced atherosclerotic lesions are capable of catalysing the oxidation of LDL by macrophages as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, enhanced electrophoretic mobility and increased macrophage uptake. This catalysis could be inhibited by pretreatment of the gruel with Chelex-100, which binds transition metal ions. The presence of catalytically active transition metal ions in atherosclerotic lesions may help to explain why LDL oxidation occurs at these sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Induction of the antioxidant stress proteins heme oxygenase-1 and MSP23 by stress agents and oxidised LDL in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

Enhanced expression of the antioxidant stress proteins heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and macrophage stress protein (MSP23) by oxidative stress agents and oxidatively modified low density lipoproteins (LDL) was investigated in cultured porcine aortic smooth muscle cells. Treatment of smooth muscle cells with glucose oxidase, CdCl2 or diethylmaleate resulted in a time-dependent (6-48 h) induction of HO-1 and MSP23 expression. Exposure of cells to 100 micrograms protein/ml highly oxidised LDL increased the expression of HO-1 and MSP23 within 24 h, and the induction was dependent on the degree of LDL oxidation. The induction of HO-1 and MSP23 may thus play an important cytoprotective role against oxidative stress in atherogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein by iron or copper at acidic pH.

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) may play a significant role in atherosclerosis. We have investigated the effect of pH on the oxidation of LDL by iron or copper. When LDL was oxidized by iron in the presence of cysteine in either Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS) or Ham's F-10 medium, an acidic pH greatly decreased the lag period and increased the rate of formation of hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and increased its uptake by macrophages. There was a dose-dependent increase of LDL oxidation at acidic pH in the presence of increasing concentrations of cysteine. When LDL was oxidized by copper in HBSS, an acidic pH increased the lag phase before the rapid formation of conjugated dienes, hydroperoxides, and TBARS, but increased its uptake by macrophages. Similar results were obtained using Ham's F-10 medium. Cysteine (100 microM) inhibited the modification of LDL by copper in HBSS at both pH 7.4 and 5.5 As atherosclerotic lesions may be acidic, these observations may help to explain why LDL oxidation occurs locally at these sites.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1994

The effects of free radical scavengers on the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins by macrophages.

Oxidised LDL has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Macrophages can oxidatively modify low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro. The mechanisms of this oxidation process are presently unclear. In this study, we have investigated the effects of compounds and enzymes widely used to quench or scavenge active oxygen species to try to identify the oxidative species involved in this process. The data obtained suggest that hydrogen peroxide may possibly play a role in LDL oxidation by macrophages, whereas singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals may not. The role of superoxide anions was uncertain because copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) and manganese SOD (Mn-SOD), widely used to determine superoxide-dependency in other systems may be unsuitable in this particular system. Cu/Zn-SOD at high concentrations displayed a variability in its effects, sometimes augmenting LDL oxidation and sometimes inhibiting it. In the experiments in which Cu/Zn-SOD augmented LDL oxidation, heat inactivation of the enzyme decreased the augmentation; in the experiments in which Cu/Zn-SOD inhibited LDL oxidation, it retained its inhibitory effect after heat inactivation. Mn-SOD always inhibited modification even after heat inactivation. We have therefore concluded that superoxide involvement in LDL oxidation by macrophages is still uncertain and the uncertainty will remain until a suitable probe is found.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Production of oxidized lipids during modification of low-density lipoprotein by macrophages or copper.

The oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is implicated in atherosclerosis. Lipids and oxidized lipids were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in human LDL incubated with mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) or copper (II) sulphate in Ham's F-10 medium or medium alone (control). MPM-modification and copper-catalysed oxidation of LDL resulted in the formation of oxysterols, mainly cholest-5-en-3 beta,7 beta-diol (7 beta-OH-CHOL); 7%-19% of the initial cholesterol was converted to 7 beta-OH-CHOL in 24 h. 7 beta-OH-CHOL levels in control LDL were very low. The increase in 7 beta-OH-CHOL in MPM and copper-oxidized LDL was accompanied by decreases in linoleate and arachidonate and increases in the electrophoretic mobility and degradation of LDL protein by 'target' macrophages. The concerted occurrence of these processes and their similarity in both MPM-modification and copper-catalysed oxidation of LDL were suggested by the highly significant cross-correlations. The fall in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was accompanied by a directly proportional increase in electrophoretic mobility of the LDL. Production of 7 beta-OH-CHOL and protein degradation by macrophages showed modest elevations during the initial steep fall in PUFA, and showed their greatest increases as the levels of PUFA slowly approached zero. The levels of 7 beta-OH-CHOL and the degradation of LDL by macrophages were directly proportional. The degradation of LDL by macrophages increased rapidly as the electrophoretic mobility of LDL was slowly approaching its maximum level.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Iron released from transferrin at acidic pH can catalyse the oxidation of low density lipoprotein.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation within the arterial wall may contribute to the disease of atherosclerosis. We have investigated the conditions under which transferrin (the major iron-carrying protein in plasma) may release iron ions to catalyse the oxidation of LDL. Transferrin that had been incubated at pH 5.5 released approximately 10% of its bound iron in 24 h, as measured by ultrafiltration and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, transferrin co-incubated with LDL and L-cysteine at pH 5.5 resulted in the oxidation of the LDL as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and electrophoretic mobility. This effect was observed at transferrin concentrations as low as 40% of its average plasma concentration. The release of iron from transferrin in atherosclerotic lesions due to a localised acidic pH may help to explain why LDL oxidation occurs in these lesions.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

NADPH oxidase is not essential for low density lipoprotein oxidation by human monocyte-derived macrophages.

NADPH oxidase has been reported to be involved in low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation by monocytes. We have investigated the ability of monocyte-derived macrophages from four chronic granulomatous disease patients, which lack NADPH oxidase, to oxidise LDL. All the cells oxidised LDL to significantly increase its uptake by mouse macrophages. We conclude therefore that NADPH oxidase is not essential for LDL oxidation by macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The oxidation of low density lipoprotein by cells or iron is inhibited by zinc.

We have examined the effect of zinc ions on low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation by macrophages, endothelial cells and iron ions in terms of the increased uptake of the LDL by macrophages. Zinc ions inhibited LDL modification by both cell types (which is dependent on the presence of iron ions in the culture medium) and by iron ions alone. As oxidised LDL is believed to be involved in atherogenesis, this raises the possibility that zinc may be an endogenous protective factor against atherosclerosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Ascorbic acid can either increase or decrease low density lipoprotein modification.

In freshly prepared low density lipoprotein (LDL), ascorbate inhibited LDL oxidation by macrophages at the higher concentrations tested (60-100 microM). In contrast, with LDL that had been allowed to autoxidise in the refrigerator (3 degrees C) for at least 10 weeks after isolation (mildly oxidised or minimally-modified LDL), ascorbate did not inhibit the modification of LDL in the presence of macrophages. Ascorbate actually modified autoxidised LDL itself in the absence of macrophages to greatly increase its uptake by macrophages. The modification of autoxidised LDL by ascorbate increased the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the medium and was completely inhibited by the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene. Thus the effects of ascorbate on unoxidized LDL can be very different to those on mildly oxidised LDL.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The effect of inhibitors of free radical generating-enzymes on low-density lipoprotein oxidation by macrophages.

Oxidised low-density lipoprotein (LDL) produced by the action of arterial cells, including macrophages, has been implicated in atherosclerosis. We have investigated the effect of inhibitors of various cellular free-radical generating enzymes on macrophage-mediated LDL oxidation. Xanthine oxidase and nitric oxide synthase are not responsible for LDL modification by resident mouse peritoneal macrophages. Eicosatetraynoic acid, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, produced a dose-dependent irreversible inhibition of macrophage modification of LDL, but at concentrations rather close to those toxic to the cells. Diphenyl and diphenylene iodonium, NADPH oxidase and mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors, inhibited macrophage oxidation of LDL, at concentrations that were not obviously toxic. This suggests that NADPH oxidase, or some other flavin nucleotide-dependent process, may be involved in LDL oxidation by macrophages. Wortmannin and thiopropionic acid dilauryl ester did not inhibit LDL oxidation, suggesting that inhibition of NADPH oxidase may not be the means by which the iodonium compounds inhibit LDL oxidation. Macrophages from C3H/HeJ mice, which lack receptors for lipopolysaccharide, modified LDL normally, suggesting that the inadvertent priming of resident macrophages by traces of lipopolysaccharide bound to LDL was not involved in LDL oxidation.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1994

Acidic pH enables caeruloplasmin to catalyse the modification of low-density lipoprotein.

LDL oxidation within the arterial wall may contribute to the disease of atherosclerosis. There is some evidence that elevated plasma levels of copper are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. We have investigated the conditions under which caeruloplasmin (the plasma copper carrier protein) can catalyse the macrophage-mediated modification of LDL. Low concentrations of CuSO4 (< 1 microM) could catalyse the macrophage-mediated modification of LDL. Native caeruloplasmin was unable to catalyse the modification of LDL at pH 7.4, but could do so after preincubation at acidic pH. After preincubation at acidic pH, concentrations of caeruloplasmin as low as 30 micrograms/ml (about one-tenth of the human plasma level) could catalyse significant LDL oxidation when added to macrophages. The activation of copper in caeruloplasmin in atherosclerotic lesions due to a localised acidic pH may help to explain why LDL oxidation occurs in these areas of the body.

Animals↗