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Biomedical subjects

E Koller

Publications and source records attributed to E Koller.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Etofibrate increases binding of low and high density lipoprotein to human platelets of patients with type II hyperlipoproteinemia.

Previous work suggested an influence of etofibrate, a diester of nicotinic acid and clofibric acid, on lipoprotein receptors. Besides its beneficial effects on plasma lipoprotein levels of decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides and increase in HDL-cholesterol, etofibrate was shown to inhibit platelet function. In order to further evaluate platelet-lipoprotein interactions, the effects of etofibrate on plasma lipids and lipoproteins on the specific binding of normal [111In]LDL and [111In]HDL onto platelets as well as its effect on platelet function were evaluated in 8 patients affected by Type II hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP). In all patients binding was saturable and indicated high affinity binding sites capable of binding 927 +/- 233 ng protein of [111In]LDL/10(9) platelets (Kd 12 +/- 3 micrograms protein/ml) and 1496 +/- 435 ng protein of [111In]HDL/10(9) platelets (Kd 14 +/- 3 micrograms protein/ml). The capacity of native LDL (HDL) to displace bound [111In]LDL ([111In]HDL) by half (IC50) amounted to 22 +/- 9 micrograms protein/ml (26 +/- 8 micrograms protein/ml). Following a 6-week treatment period with etofibrate (500 mg twice daily), decrease in plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) B and increase in HDL-cholesterol and apo AI was correlated to a significant (P < 0.01) increase in LDL- as well as HDL-receptor binding. The platelet binding capacity increased to 1085 +/- 212 ng protein/10(9) platelets (Kd 8 +/- 3 micrograms protein/ml) for [111In]LDL and to 1867 +/- 266 ng protein/10(9) platelets for [111In]HDL (Kd 11 +/- 3 micrograms protein/ml). Platelet function studies demonstrated significantly (P < 0.01) reduced platelet aggregation in response to ADP and thromboxane formation after 6 weeks of etofibrate therapy. These findings in patients with HPL Type II indicate in vivo upregulation of specific [111In]LDL as well as [111In]HDL binding sites on human platelets associated with reduced platelet activation following etofibrate therapy.

Adult↗

Binding of 111In-labeled LDL to platelets of normolipemic volunteers and patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Low density lipoproteins (LDLs) were isolated by ultracentrifugation and radiolabeled with 111In. The in vitro binding of these radiolabels onto platelets of normolipemic volunteers (n = 15) and patients (n = 36) with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) was investigated. Binding was saturable and indicated high-affinity binding sites capable of binding 1,757 +/- 289 ng protein of 111In-LDL per 10(9) platelets (dissociation constant [Kd], 6 +/- 3 micrograms protein/mL) in healthy volunteers and significantly (p < 0.001) lower amounts in the FH patients (mean, 633 +/- 341 ng protein/10(9) platelets; Kd, 10 +/- 5 micrograms protein/mL). The capacity of native LDL to displace bound 111In-LDL by half amounted to 10 +/- 4 micrograms protein/mL in volunteers and 22 +/- 8 micrograms protein/mL in FH patients (p < 0.001). Treatment with gemfibrozil alone or in combination with cholestyramine in 10 patients resulted in increased 111In-LDL binding by platelets (470 +/- 307 [mean +/- SD] ng protein/10(9) platelets before therapy, 948 +/- 650 ng protein/10(9) platelets after 2 months of therapy [p < 0.01], and 1,272 +/- 701 ng protein/10(9) platelets after 6 months of therapy [p < 0.01]). Significant correlations between 111In-LDL binding capacity and apolipoprotein B (r = -0.83, p < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.80, p < 0.000) concentrations were found. Patients with clinically manifested atherosclerosis (p < 0.01) and those with diabetes mellitus (p < 0.05) had significantly lower platelet LDL binding sites. The findings demonstrate 111In-lipoprotein-specific binding sites on human platelets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Characterization of the chicken alpha 1(VI) collagen promoter.

The promoter of the chicken alpha 1(VI) collagen gene resembles the 5'-flanking regions of many housekeeping genes. It lacks a canonical TATAA box but contains potential binding sites for transcription factors AP1 and SP1. The promoter region has a relatively high GC content and forms a typical CpG island. In accordance with the absence of a TATAA element, the gene contains multiple transcription-initiation sites distributed over 80 bp genomic DNA. A 621-bp fragment derived from the 5' end of the alpha 1(VI) collagen gene is able to direct transcription of a heterologous reporter gene in transient-expression assays. Other DNA fragments that are either shorter or longer than the 621-bp fragment show markedly reduced promoter activity. Thus, the basic promoter element of the alpha 1(VI) collagen gene must reside within this 621-bp fragment.

Animals↗

Structural comparison of the chicken genes for alpha 1(VI) and alpha 2(VI) collagen.

The chicken alpha 1(VI) polypeptide is encoded by a single gene spanning 21 kbp of genomic DNA. This gene is composed of 34 exons and 33 introns. Its structure is closely related to that of the alpha 2(VI) collagen gene, suggesting that the two genes evolved by gene duplication. Both genes contain 19 exons coding for the triple-helical domain. These exons are multiples of 9 bp (27, 36, 45, 54, 63 and 90 bp) and encode an integral number of collagenous Gly-Xaa-Yaa triplets. Since there is no convincing correlation to a building block of 54 bp, it is unlikely that type VI collagen has evolved from a primordial 54-bp module as suggested for all fibrillar collagens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Binding of 111In-labeled HDL to platelets from normolipemic volunteers and patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

High density lipoproteins (HDLs; d = 1.063 - 1.21 g/ml) were isolated by ultracentrifugation and radiolabeled with 111In. The in vitro binding onto platelets from healthy volunteers (n = 15) and patients (n = 36) with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) was investigated. Binding was saturable and indicated high-affinity binding sites, which bound 1,882 +/- 361 ng protein of 111In-HDL/10(9) platelets (dissociation constant [Kd] = 7 +/- 3 micrograms protein/ml) in healthy volunteers and significantly (p less than 0.01) lower amounts in the FH patients (1,012 +/- 439 ng protein of 111In-HDL/10(9) platelets [Kd = 12 +/- 4 micrograms protein/ml]; p less than 0.01). The capacity to displace one half of the bound ligand (IC50) amounted to 14 +/- 3 micrograms protein/ml in healthy volunteers and 22 +/- 9 micrograms protein/ml in FH patients (p less than 0.001). Treatment with lipid-lowering drugs (gemfibrozil, alone or in combination with cholestyramine) in 10 patients resulted in an increased HDL binding capacity: before treatment, 1,280 +/- 883; after 2 months of treatment, 2,052 +/- 873 (p less than 0.05); and after 6 months of treatment, 2,127 +/- 812 ng protein/10(9) platelets (p less than 0.01). There was a significant (p less than 0.001) correlation between 111In-HDL binding data and plasmatic lipid and lipoprotein values. Furthermore, those FH patients with the additional risk factors of smoking (p less than 0.05) and hypertension (p less than 0.01) showed significantly lower 111In-HDL binding onto platelets. The findings indicate specific 111In-HDL binding sites for human platelets, which may be decreased in patients with heterozygous FH. Upregulation of HDL binding sites during lipid-lowering medication therapy supports the hypothesis that high-affinity HDL binding is involved in hyperlipemic disorders and is possibly related to the reactivity of platelets.

Adult↗

The promoter of the chicken alpha 2(VI) collagen gene has features characteristic of house-keeping genes and of proto-oncogenes.

The promoter of the chicken alpha 2(VI) collagen gene reveals several interesting features characteristic of house-keeping genes and growth control related genes. It does not possess a typical TATAA or CAAT box, but it contains several potential binding sites for transcription factors Sp1 and ETF. The 5' flanking region of the gene forms a typical 'CpG island' where the dinucleotide sequence CpG occurs with high frequency relative to the bulk genome. Consistent with the lack of a TATAA element, the gene contains multiple transcription initiation sites distributed over 75 bp of genomic DNA. A short DNA fragment (207 bp) encompassing all the transcription initiation sites and the entire CpG island shows strong promoter activity when linked to a heterologous reporter gene. The upstream region of the promoter harbours a long homopurine/homopyrimidine element (403 bp) which is sensitive to endonuclease S1. This element might have the ability to adopt an intramolecular hairpin triplex structure and could play a role in the organization of the chromatin at the alpha 2(VI) collagen locus. Our results demonstrate that the structure of the alpha 2(VI) collagen promoter is completely different from that of any other collagen promoter characterized so far.

Animals↗

[Pathologico-anatomic characteristics of conservatively treated breast carcinomas in Basel].

Conservation treatment was applied to 406 patients in Basel, between 1977 and 1986, who accounted for 25% of all cases of mammary carcinoma. Patients with favourable prognostic factors had been selected for this therapeutic approach. The primary tumor bed was re-excised in about 50% of all operations. Intramammary recurrences were recorded from 9% of all cases, through an average follow-up period of 53 months. Presence of carcinoma residues in re-excised specimens was an important risk factor for development of locally delimited recurrence. Additional risks were relating to presence of tumor residues in final excision margins as well as to invasive lobular carcinoma. No combination of histopathological risk factors has so far become known as an absolute contraindication to conservation treatment of mammary carcinoma.

Adult↗

Indium-111-labeled low-density lipoprotein binds with higher affinity to the human liver as compared to iodine-123-low-density-labeled lipoprotein.

The interaction of 111In-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and 123I-LDL with human liver-plasma membranes was investigated and compared. LDLs were isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation and radiolabeled either with 123I (using lodogen or iodine-monochloride) each followed by purification with gel-chromatography or dialysis) or 111In (using cyclic DTPA-anhydride). LDL concentrations of 0.1 to 32 micrograms protein/ml were used for direct binding assays investigating the specific binding of labeled LDL (in the presence of a 50-fold excess of unlabeled LDL) to human liver apoB-receptors. In separate experiments, displacement of bound 111In-(123I)-LDL by unlabeled LDL was studied. Human liver plasma membranes bound 239 +/- 26 ng protein of 111In-LDL/mg protein and 148 +/- 18 ng protein of 123I-LDL/mg protein specifically (p less than 0.001). The corresponding dissociation constants were 0.6 +/- 0.2 and 1.2 +/- 0.7 micrograms protein/ml, respectively (p less than 0.001). The capacity of unlabeled LDL to displace bound 111In-LDL was four times higher than that for 123I-LDL (IC50: 1.7 +/- 0.7 versus 7.7 +/- 1.0 micrograms protein/ml). No significant differences among the different methods of iodination of LDL were found. The findings show that 111In-labeled lipoproteins might be a better ligand for lipoprotein-receptor binding studies as compared to radioiodinated lipoprotein products.

Adult↗

myo-inositol oxygenase from rat kidneys. Substrate-dependent oligomerization.

myo-Inositol from rat kidneys, an oligomeric protein with apparent molecular mass of about 270 kDa can be dissociated under mild conditions to structured 16.8-kDa monomers. This dissociation can be reversed at high protein concentrations at room temperature. The corresponding apparent dimerization constant K2app = 1.38 x 10(5) M-1, the corresponding rate constant k2 = 350 s-1.M-1, and the apparent constant for the association of dimers, K4app = 2.7 x 10(6) M-1. Reassociation is significantly enhanced in the presence of the substrate and iron(II) (K2app = 9.8 x 10(5) M-1; K4app = 3.75 x 10(6) M-1, k2 = 1750 s-1.M-1, at 20 mM myo-inositol and 0.5 mM FeSO4). Under these conditions almost 100% of the original enzymatic activity was reconstituted. Monomers, with or without bound ligands, lack catalytic activity, whereas the dimer is likely to be the elementary active enzyme-building unit. The effects of myo-inositol on the dimerization lead to the conclusion that this step is both mediated and facilitated by the substrate.

Animals↗

Purification and identification of the lipoprotein-binding proteins from human blood platelet membrane.

As reported previously, homologous plasma lipoproteins specifically bind to the plasma membrane of human blood platelets. The two major lipoprotein-binding membrane glycoproteins were purified to apparent homogeneity and identified by their mobilities in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both in the nonreduced and reduced state, by specific antibodies against glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), respectively, including the alloantibody anti-PlA1 and monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, lipoprotein binding to intact platelets is also inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by preincubation of the platelets with antibodies against these glycoproteins. From these experiments it can be concluded that lipoproteins bind to both components of the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex in isolated membranes and intact platelets. High density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein bind to GPIIIa blotted to nitrocellulose in a way that binding of one species interferes with the binding of the other. Addition of fibrinogen significantly inhibits this binding. The specific binding of fibrinogen to GPIIIa is strongly inhibited in the presence of either of the two lipoproteins. LDL and HDL are specifically bound by isolated GPIIb, too. In our blotting experiments fibrinogen shows no binding to this membrane glycoprotein. On the other hand, fibrinogen significantly interferes with the interaction between GPIIb and the lipoproteins.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The globular domains of type VI collagen are related to the collagen-binding domains of cartilage matrix protein and von Willebrand factor.

Type VI collagen is a transformation-sensitive glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix of fibroblasts. We have isolated and sequenced several overlapping cDNA clones (4153 bp) which encode the entire alpha 2 subunit of chicken type VI collagen. The deduced amino acid sequence predicts that the alpha 2(VI) polypeptide consists of 1015 amino acid residues that are arranged in four domains: a hydrophobic signal peptide of 20 residues, an amino-terminal globular domain of 228 residues, a collagenous segment of 335 residues and a carboxy-terminal globular domain of 432 residues. The collagenous domain contains seven Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide units, some of which are likely to be used as cell-binding sites. The globular domains contain three homologous repeats with an average length of 180 amino acid residues. These repeats show a striking similarity to the collagen-binding motifs found in von Willebrand factor and cartilage matrix protein. We therefore speculate that the globular domains of the alpha 2(VI) polypeptide may interact with collagenous structures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ophthalmic observations in lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency.

Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase is an enzyme that esterifies free cholesterol. A complete deficiency of this enzyme results in a diffusely cloudy cornea. This deficiency is thought to be transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. We studied a family in which four members were homozygote recessive. In the homozygote recessive condition, a central corneal haze caused by deposition of numerous minute gray dots was consistently present. In the heterozygote condition, arcuslike changes were present in some of the patients studied. We found the corneal change in the recessive state to be sensitive and specific as a marker of this condition. Heterozygotes appear to have a higher incidence of arcuslike corneal changes.

Adolescent↗

Fluorometric continuous kinetic assay of alpha-chymotrypsin using new protease substrates possessing long-wave excitation and emission maxima.

A direct and continuous kinetic method for the fluorometric determination of alpha-chymotrypsin and trypsin is described, and 2-aminoacridone (2-AA) is introduced as a promising new fluorophore in analytical biochemistry. N-Succinyl- and N-glutaryl-phenylalanine as well as N-benzoylarginine were coupled to 2-AA via a peptide bond and the resulting fluorogenic substrates are shown to be cleaved by the two enzymes. Since the substrate and product of hydrolysis have quite different spectral properties, the increase in the long-wave fluorescence of 2-AA (measured at 570 nm under 450-nm excitation) is a parameter for the enzyme activity. Chymotrypsin (0.5 microgram/ml) and trypsin (0.1 microgram/ml) were detectable in a 3-min assay. The major advantages of the new substrates over existing ones are the analytical wavelengths which are distinctly outside the background fluorescence of most biological matter and the somewhat faster reaction rates which can reduce the time of analysis.

Aminoacridines↗

Investigation of lipid peroxidation in human low density lipoprotein.

Human plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) exposed to oxygen saturated buffer becomes depleted of alpha-tocopherol within 3 to 6 hours. Thereafter, lipid peroxidation commences as evidenced by the loss of 18:2 (67 nmol/mg LDL) and 20:4 (12 nmol/mg LDL) and the concomitant formation of 4-hydroxynonenal (0.28 nmol/mg LDL) and fluorescent compounds. The major fluorophor in apo B of oxidized LDL has an excitation maximum at 355 nm and an emission maximum at 430 nm. A fluorophor with the same spectral properties is produced in apo B, if LDL is incubated with 4-hydroxynonenal, whereas malonaldehyde gives a fluorophor with excitation and emission maxima at 400/470 nm. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy proved to be an useful tool in analysing the complex fluorescence of apo B.

Aldehydes↗