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G Camejo

Publications and source records attributed to G Camejo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Possible functional interactions of apolipoprotein B-100 segments that associate with cell proteoglycans and the ApoB/E receptor.

The interaction of apoE lipoproteins with cells appears to be mediated by an association with basic sequences of proteoglycans and the apoB/E receptor. ApoB-100 has basic sequences, homologous with those of apoE, that form part of the apoB/E receptor-binding domain. These sequences of apoB-100 also interact with proteoglycans. We investigated whether such segments, in analogy with apoE, could act cooperatively on LDL interactions with proteoglycans and the receptor. As a model we used the two most basic regions of apoB-100, 3147 through 3157 and 3359 through 3367, connected by three glycines (3145-3157-GGG-3359-3367). Such segments may be proximal in LDL by the presence of a disulfide bridge between Cys(3167) and Cys(3297). The apoB heterodimer but not the separated monomers inhibited 125I-LDL degradation in fibroblasts and THP-1 cells by 50% at approximately 11 mumol/L. The heterodimer affinity with arterial proteoglycans was closer to that of LDL and higher than that of the individual peptides. The heterodimer appears to bind specifically to THP-1 cells, with a Kd of 6.2 x 10(-8) mol/L and a Bmax of 1.3 x 10(6) molecules/cell. Monoclonal antibody C-7, which recognizes the apoB receptor, inhibited the binding to cells. Treatment of fibroblasts with chondroitinase ABC or chlorate decreased 125I-LDL degradation markedly. Hydrolysis of pericellular proteoglycans of fibroblasts by chondroitinases reduced mostly the low-affinity, high-capacity component of LDL binding. This compartment appears to hold 70% of the cell-associated LDL when internalization is inhibited at 4 degrees C. Therefore, cell-surface chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans appear to modulate binding and receptor-mediated internalization of LDL. This may be caused, at least in part, by the association of proteoglycans with the apoB-100 segments 3145 through 3157 and 3359 through 3367.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cellular consequences of the association of apoB lipoproteins with proteoglycans. Potential contribution to atherogenesis.

Many of the discussed results come from empirical experiments performed with in vitro models whose relevance to the complex environment of the intima is limited. However, they are consistent with the line of reasoning that intima PGs interact specifically with apoB lipoproteins and contribute to their retention. This could provide the residence time and the initial alterations of the lipoproteins that favor their further modifications by oxidative processes and hydrolytic enzymes. Products of such modifications, and the modified particles, may be stimuli for changes in the functionality of endothelium, smooth muscle cells, and macrophages. The focal synthesis of PGs with high affinity for apoB lipoproteins could make the phenomena chronic. Clinical and laboratory studies indicate that dense LDL, poor in surface polar lipids, is associated with an atherogenic phenotype. Particles with these properties may contribute to the disease via its high affinity for arterial PGs. This affinity can be modulated by diet, lifestyle, and lipid-lowering drugs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Binding of human phospholipase A2 type II to proteoglycans. Differential effect of glycosaminoglycans on enzyme activity.

Phospholipase A2 acting on low density lipoproteins in the extracellular arterial intima may form proinflammatory lipid mediators. Human nonpancreatic secretory phospholipase A2 has three regions that may associate with sulfated glycosaminoglycans. The apoB-100 molecule in low density lipoproteins also has glycosaminoglycan binding regions that could mediate its retention in the arterial intima. Here we report that human nonpancreatic phospholipase A2 isolated from a transfected cell line binds to glycosaminoglycans secreted by cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells. A gel mobility shift assay showed that the affinity of phospholipase A2 for glycosaminoglycans from a heparan sulfate/chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan was higher than for chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans from a larger versican-like proteoglycan. Affinity chromatography confirmed these results. All glycosaminoglycans tested, at concentrations up to 100 microM, increased the activity of phospholipase A2 toward phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Above this concentration, heparan sulfate and heparin inhibited the enzyme. Heparin and chondroitin 6-sulfate increased phospholipase A2 activity on low density lipoproteins up to 4-fold at 100 microM, whereas heparan sulfate had no effect. The results indicate that human nonpancreatic secretory phospholipase A2 interacts with proteoglycans via their glycosaminoglycan moiety and that the enzyme activity may be modulated by the association of the enzyme and its substrate to the sulfated polysaccharides.

Chondroitin Sulfates↗

Effect of olive and sunflower oils on low density lipoprotein level, composition, size, oxidation and interaction with arterial proteoglycans.

The atherogenicity of low density lipoproteins (LDL) may be modulated by its serum levels, structure and affinity for components of the intima, all properties that can be altered by diet. Linoleic acid-rich diets (n-G, 18:2) reduce the levels of LDL whereas those rich in oleic (n-9,18:1) are considered 'neutral'. However, LDL enriched in linoleic acid have been reported to be more vulnerable to free radical-mediated oxidation than those enriched in oleic, a potentially atherogenic property. The effect of dietary fats on other properties of LDL that may also modulate atherogenesis, such as size and capacity to interact with intima components, are not well established. We explored here how a change from an olive oil-rich diet (OO) to a sunflower oil-rich one (SFO) affects these parameters in a community with a traditional Mediterranean diet. Eighteen free-living volunteers were placed for 3 weeks on a diet with 31% of caloric intake as sunflower oil and then shifted for an additional 3 weeks to a diet in which OO provided 30.5% of the calories. The LDL after SFO had a fatty acids ratio of (18:2 + 18:3 + 20:4) to (16:0 + 16:1 + 18:0 + 18:1) of 1.06 +/- 0.11 compared to 0.73 +/- 0.06 after the OO period. Serum LDL was significantly lower after SFO than after OO. Unexpectedly, copper-catalyzed oxidation of LDL from the SFO period was significantly less than that of the particles from the OO period. The resistance to oxidation of LDL of the SFO and OO period related to alterations in content of the antioxidants alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and retinol, in addition to changes in size and fatty acids composition. In vitro binding of LDL to human arterial proteoglycans was also significantly lower for the SFO-LDL than the OO-LDL, a result that can also be attributed to the larger size of the SFO-LDL. Therefore, three properties of LDL: circulating levels, oxidizability, and affinity with intima proteoglycans, that may modulate its atherogenicity, were shifted in a favorable direction by diets rich in linoleic acid and natural antioxidants.

Adult↗

Insoluble complex formation between LDL and arterial proteoglycans in relation to serum lipid levels and effects of lipid lowering drugs.

Lipoprotein deposition and increased intimal proteoglycans are characteristics of the atherosclerotic lesion in which low density lipoproteins (LDL) bind with high affinity to proteoglycans. The affinity of LDL to proteoglycans is dependent on its structural and compositional characteristics. This study investigated the relationship between serum lipid levels and LDL-proteoglycan reactivity. We also analyzed how lipid-lowering drugs affect this interaction. Patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia (n = 147) were randomized to pravastatin 40 mg o.d., gemfibrozil 600 mg b.i.d., gemfibrozil+pravastatin (same doses) or placebo. LDL reactivity with proteoglycans was analyzed by precipitation of serum with isolated human arterial proteoglycans. Reactivity was determined as amount of precipitated cholesterol or apolipoprotein (apo) B. Under the conditions used, 53% of the LDL cholesterol and 29% of serum apo B were precipitated. There were strong correlations between precipitated LDL and serum levels of cholesterol, LDL or apo B. No correlations were found with serum lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels. During pravastatin treatment, cholesterol was reduced by 26.5% and triglycerides by 9.8%. During gemfibrozil treatment corresponding figures were 16.8 and 40.2, and for the combined treatment, 27.5% and 34.2%. On all treatments, the reactivity of LDL with proteoglycan was reduced. The effects were significantly larger in the groups treated with gemfibrozil. This was correlated with the increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) during gemfibrozil treatment. In hypercholesterolemia, the reactivity of LDL with proteoglycan is increased; treatment with lipid-lowering drugs lowers this reactivity, the effect being greatest for gemfibrozil. This might be due to conformational changes of LDL during treatment with gemfibrozil, unrelated to its lipid lowering effect. Since binding of LDL to proteoglycans is central in atherogenesis, this may be of importance for the role of gemfibrozil as an antiatherogenic drug.

Adult↗

Multifactorial treatment of hypertensive men at high cardiovascular risk and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol affinity to human arterial proteoglycans.

The purpose of this work was to examine in an open, randomized parallel-group study whether an intervention programme directed towards hypercholesterolaemia, smoking and diabetes mellitus in treated hypertensive men was associated with less complex formation between low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and human arterial proteoglycans than was the case with usual care. The intervention consisted mainly of non-pharmacological treatment, but drug therapy could be instituted to achieve the treatment goals in the intervention group. The intervention programme was associated with a significant reduction in body mass index, and 46% of the patients were on lipid-lowering medication at the follow-up examination. The net differences were (intervention--usual care): change in serum LDL-cholesterol, -0.48 mmol L-1 (95% confidence interval -0.84 to -0.11 mmol L-1), precipitated LDL-cholesterol, -5.5 micrograms (95% CI -9.0 to -1.1 micrograms). The latter remained after adjustment for the difference in serum LDL-cholesterol between groups. Our conclusion is that the multifactorial risk factor treatment programme was associated with a reduced tendency of LDL to form complexes with human arterial proteoglycans.

Aged↗

Binding of platelet-derived growth factor and low density lipoproteins to glycosaminoglycan species produced by human arterial smooth muscle cells.

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) binds via a defined amino acid sequence to heparin (Fager et al., 1992, In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol., 28A:176-180) and the protein moiety of low density lipoproteins (LDL; apo B-100) via a similar sequence to chondroitin sulfate (Camejo et al., 1988, Arteriosclerosis Thromb., 8:368-377). In this study, synthetic oligopeptides were used to explore the capacity of smooth muscle cell-derived glycosaminoglycans to bind to the critical sequences of PDGF and apo B-100. In vitro, proliferating human arterial smooth muscle cells synthesized twice as much proteoglycans as did quiescent cells. The dominating glycosaminoglycan side chains were chondroitin and heparan sulfates in secreted and cell-associated proteoglycans, respectively. The chondroitin sulfate-rich proteoglycans had a higher molecular size and were to a larger extent secreted into the culture medium than the heparan and dermatan sulfate-rich proteoglycans. Heparan, dermatan, and chondroitin sulfates bound to the PDGF-derived oligopeptide with affinities similar to those of heparin. However, while heparan and dermatan sulfates both inhibited DNA synthesis in human arterial smooth muscle cells, chondroitin sulfate had no such inhibitory effect. Like the PDGF-derived oligopeptide, the apo B-100-derived oligopeptide bound to these glycosaminoglycans. At the same time, both oligopeptides displaced bound LDL from chondroitin sulfate in vitro and released the block on DNA synthesis in smooth muscle cells that heparin induced in culture. Thus, chondroitin, dermatan, and heparan sulfates produced by arterial smooth muscle cells may bind LDL and PDGF competitively in atherogenesis but only heparan and dermatan sulfates inhibit cellular DNA synthesis. LDL and PDGF deposition may occur by binding to similar binding sites on glycosaminoglycans derived from smooth muscle cells within atherosclerotic lesions.

Apolipoprotein B-100↗

Interferon gamma binds to extracellular matrix chondroitin-sulfate proteoglycans, thus enhancing its cellular response.

The amino acid sequence of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) has basic amino acid clusters similar to the heparin-binding consensus sequences found in other proteins that bind to proteoglycans (PGs). We investigated whether recombinant human IFN-gamma could bind to extracellular matrix (ECM) PGs secreted by human arterial smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in vitro and whether the interaction affected the cellular response to IFN-gamma. As an in vitro model of ECM we used the basement membrane from HASMCs in culture. The binding of 125I-IFN-gamma to ECM was reduced significantly by pretreatment of ECM with chondroitinase ABC, an enzyme that degrades chondroitin-sulfate glycosaminoglycans. IFN-gamma binding to ECM was reduced by increasing concentrations of chondroitin-6-sulfate. 125I-IFN-gamma (0.05 to 2 ng/mL) binding data indicated an apparent Kd of 2 x 10(-11) mol/L and a maximum binding of 1.6 x 10(6) IFN-gamma molecules bound per square millimeter of ECM. Experiments with synthetic peptides suggested that residues 127 through 135 (AKTGKRKRS) are involved in the binding. The binding to chondroitin-sulfate PGs was confirmed by affinity chromatography of isolated [35S]chondroitin-sulfate PGs from ECM and cell-culture medium on immobilized IFN-gamma. The binding was abolished by treatment with chondroitinase ABC. ECM-bound IFN-gamma was more effective in inducing the expression of class II major histocompatibility antigens such as HLA-DR in HASMCs and human arterial endothelial cells than soluble IFN-gamma. These results suggest a role for chondroitin-sulfate PGs in immobilizing IFN-gamma in the ECM compartment and enhancing the cellular response to IFN-gamma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Lipoprotein oxidation and measurement of hydroperoxide formation in a single microtitre plate.

The oxidative modification of lipoproteins is of clinical importance because of potential contribution to atherogenesis [1, 2, 3]. An early step in the complex process of oxidation is the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. We describe here a method for the Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of human low density lipoproteins with the subsequent analysis of hydroperoxides formation in a single microtitre plate. The procedure includes a modification of an iodometric peroxide assay for test tubes using a commercially available reagent. The microtitre plate method correlated well with the test tube procedure (r = 0.99) and showed comparable sensitivity and reproducibility. It was sensitive down to 0.5 nmol hydroperoxides/well and linear up to at least 20 nmol well-1. The method can handle several hundreds of samples a day with considerably less labour than the test tube procedure. It was well suited to monitor the kinetics of lipoprotein oxidation. The method was also used to test the potency of antioxidants, however, some antioxidants may interfere with the iodometric reaction and should be tested in the assay before use.

Antioxidants↗

Lipoprotein fractionation in deuterium oxide gradients: a procedure for evaluation of antioxidant binding and susceptibility to oxidation.

Oxidative modifications of lipoproteins appear to contribute to their atherogenicity. Very low and low density lipoproteins (VLDL and LDL) are protected against these modifications by antioxidants that can be incorporated in vivo or in vitro into the particles. We describe here ultracentrifugal procedures for isolation of VLDL and LDL that do not require subsequent dialysis or buffer equilibration. Lipoproteins were isolated in buffers with physiological ionic composition prepared in D2O (deuterium oxide). This allowed measurements of the content of antioxidants and of the susceptibility to oxidation of the isolated LDL without further manipulations. Conventional ultracentrifugal methods use high salt concentrations and require additional steps to eliminate them. This introduces uncertainties in the evaluation of antioxidant binding and on measurements of their effect on VLDL and LDL oxidation. With the method described, the composition of the isolated VLDL and LDL was indistinguishable from that of fractions isolated with KBr gradients. Also, the content of alpha-tocopherol was similar. LDL isolated with KBr solutions appeared to bind 20-45% more of the probucol present in serum than LDL isolated in isotonic solutions prepared with D2O. This was the case with probucol incorporated into plasma or serum in vivo or in vitro. Five out of seven LDL isolated with the D2O procedure from different human sera appeared more resistant to Cu(2+)-catalyzed oxidation than those obtained with KBr gradients from the same serum. In addition to the gradient procedure, we also describe a preparative version of the method that can be used with multiple samples.

Animals↗

Binding of low density lipoproteins by proteoglycans synthesized by proliferating and quiescent human arterial smooth muscle cells.

Chondroitin sulfate-rich proteoglycans secreted by arterial intima smooth muscle cells appear involved in low density lipoprotein entrapment and modification. Hypothetically, such a process may contribute to atherogenesis. We compared composition and size of those proteoglycans synthesized by proliferating and resting human arterial smooth muscle cells for which low density lipoprotein had affinity. Lipoprotein-binding proteoglycans secreted by proliferating cells were larger than those of resting cells (M(r) = 1.1 x 10(6) versus 0.8 x 10(6). This was primarily caused by increased M(r) of the chondroitin sulfate chains (6 x 10(4) versus 3.5 x 10(4)). The glycosaminoglycan chains of the proteoglycans from both cells were made of more than 90% chondroitin 6-sulfate and chondroitin 4-sulfate in a 6:4 ratio. Affinity chromatography indicated that low density lipoprotein had a higher affinity with the proteoglycans synthesized by proliferating cells than those from resting cells. Measured with gel mobility shift assay, the apparent affinity constant of low density lipoproteins for proteoglycans from proliferating cells was 3-fold higher than that for proteoglycans from resting cells. This increased affinity appeared related to the higher relative proportion of proteoglycans with longer glycosaminoglycan chains secreted by the proliferating cells than those secreted by the resting cells.

Arteries↗

Binding of a synthetic apolipoprotein B-100 peptide and peptide analogues to chondroitin 6-sulfate: effects of the lipid environment.

The association of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) containing lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] with chondroitin sulfate-rich proteoglycans (CSPG) of the arterial intima appears to contribute significantly to lipoprotein disposition during atherogenesis. Using frontal elution analysis and competition experiments, we have previously suggested that the apoB-100 segment RLTRKRGLK (3359-3367) is a mediator of the association between LDL and arterial CSPG. Here, with direct binding measurements and fluorescence titrations, we evaluated the effect of the lipid environment on the affinity of the above apoB-100 segment for chondrotin 6-sulfate (C6S). We synthesized a secondary model peptide with hydrophobic tails which allowed its binding to lipid vesicles and lipoproteins (VVWRLTRKRGLKVVV). When associated with lipid vesicles, this peptide showed a higher affinity (KD = 3.9 microM) for C6S than the free peptide (KD = 18.7 microM). However, the affinity was still lower than that of LDL (KD = 0.21 microM). The increase in affinity for the peptide after association with lipid vesicles indicates that the secondary structure induced by its association with lipid vesicles is a significant modulator of the affinity for glycosaminoglycans. When bound to LDL and VLDL subfractions, VVWRLTRKRGLKVVV increased the affinity of the lipoproteins for C6S. The results suggest that, with the proper secondary structure induced by the lipid environment, the segment RLTRKRRGLK of apoB-100 is an important determinant of the association of LDL and VLDL with glycosaminoglycans but that probably other basic segments contribute to this interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Lipoprotein oxidation and measurement of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances formation in a single microtiter plate: its use for evaluation of antioxidants.

Transition metals catalyze free radical-mediated oxidation of lipids and lipoproteins. This process is currently studied because of its potential relevance to pathological processes like atherosclerosis. Formation of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances from polyenoic fatty acids is frequently used to follow oxidation of lipids and plasma lipoproteins. We describe here how Cu(II)- and Fe(III)-catalyzed oxidation of human low density lipoprotein or soy bean phospholipids and the photometric evaluation of the thiobarbituric acid-reaching substances formed can be conducted in the same 96-well microtiter plate. The procedure showed a correlation of 0.98 with conventional two-stage fluorimetric and spectrophotometric methods and also showed better reproducibility. The plate method can handle up to one plate per hour with considerably less labor than the test tube assays. The plate procedure required small volumes of diluted samples of lipoproteins lipids and reagents. The method was suitable for testing the concentration-dependent antioxidant potency of substances like probucol, butylated hydroxytoluene, and alpha-tocopherol. The method can also be used to follow the kinetics of oxidation of lipoproteins.

Antioxidants↗

Heparin-like glycosaminoglycans influence growth and phenotype of human arterial smooth muscle cells in vitro. I. Evidence for reversible binding and inactivation of the platelet-derived growth factor by heparin.

We have investigated the effects of interactions between growth factors and heparin-like glycosaminoglycans on untransformed human arterial smooth muscle cells (hASMC) in vitro. The results indicate that heparin in the presence of serum mitogens prevents the cells from entering the S phase of the cell cycle by binding and inactivating reversibly some serum mitogen(s). Our results suggest that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is one of them and that it is the most potent stimulator of hASMC growth in vitro. Thymidine incorporation as well as increase in DNA content was inhibited not only by the presence of heparin in serum-containing medium but also when serum was chromatographed on Heparin-Sepharose at physiologic salt concentrations before exposure to the cells. The mitogenic activity of the unretained serum fraction was restored by the addition of PDGF AA, AB, or BB dimers or of a fraction (RF I) that dissociated from Heparin-Sepharose at 0.2 to 0.6 M NaCl. Radiolabeled recombinant PDGF (c-sis) dissociated from Heparin-Sepharose within a concentration range of NaCl similar to that of RF I. Neither the unretained material nor the RF I or PDGF dimers were effective alone. The effect of RF I was significantly decreased by the addition of an anti-PDGF IgG that is known to neutralize the PDGF mitogenic activity partially. Addition of heparin abolished DNA-synthesis when the PDGF dimers or RF I were combined with the unretained fraction. A second fraction (RF II) bound strongly to Heparin-Sepharose and eluted between 1.1 and 1.6 M NaCl. The RF II also induced DNA synthesis but was neither as efficient as RF I nor depending on other serum fractions for growth promotion and it was not inhibited by anti-PDGF IgG. A similar strong affinity for Heparin-Sepharose was found for labeled basic fibroblast growth factor and we cannot exclude the possibility that RF II represent fibroblast growth factor. Under these culture conditions, inhibition of hASMC proliferation was directly correlated with the expression of smooth muscle specific alpha actin isoforms in stress fibers and the suppression of a proliferating cell-specific nuclear antigen. Conversely, stimulation of hASMC proliferation was associated with the opposite phenomenon. We conclude that heparin-like glycosaminoglycans influence growth and phenotype of hASMCs in vitro by binding and inactivating PDGF. Inasmuch as heparin-like substances constitute a significant proportion of the proteoglycan-associated glycosaminoglycans of the arterial wall, such mechanisms might be important for the development of atherosclerotic lesions.

Cell Division↗

Heparin-like glycosaminoglycans influence growth and phenotype of human arterial smooth muscle cells in vitro. II. The platelet-derived growth factor A-chain contains a sequence that specifically binds heparin.

Synthetic oligopeptides were used to study the specificity of the interaction between heparin and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in competition experiments. DNA synthesis in PDGF-dependent human arterial smooth muscle cell (hASMC) cultures was used as a biological tracer of PDGF activity. Oligo-108-124 (corresponding to amino acid residues 108-124 of the long PDGF A-chain isoform) had no effect on DNA synthesis in itself but competed at 10(-10) M concentration effectively with PDGF for binding to heparin and released the block on thymidine incorporation induced by heparin. Poly-lysine-serine (lysine:serine ratio 3:1) was also effective but at a considerably higher concentration (10(-6) M). Poly-arginine-serine did not compete with PDGF for heparin as deduced from the cell assay. This suggested that among basic amino acids, lysine was more important than arginine for heparin binding. Deletion of lysine residues 115 and 116 in Oligo-108-124 abolished its effect on the interaction between PDGF and heparin in the cell assay. Likewise, Oligo-69-84 (corresponding to the PDGF A-chain residues 69-84), with three lysine residues interrupted by a proline, was ineffective. In Oligo-108-124, the lysine residues are interrupted by an arginine. Our results suggested that the binding between PDGF and heparin is specific and that the amino acid sequence [-Lys115-Lys116-Arg117-Lys118-Arg119-] is of major importance. They do not however, exclude other domains of the PDGF A or B chains as additional binding sites for heparin nor do they exclude the possibility that heparin and the PDGF receptor share a common binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of arterial proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans on low density lipoprotein oxidation and its uptake by human macrophages and arterial smooth muscle cells.

The reversible interaction of low density lipoprotein (LDL) with arterial chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) or glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) selects LDL particles with a high affinity for sulfated GAGs and also induces modifications in apolipoprotein B (apo B) and the lipid organization of the lipoprotein. In the present work we studied the effect that the reversible interaction with sulfated polysaccharides has on the susceptibility of LDL to in vitro oxidation. For this purpose soluble, nonaggregated CSPG- or GAG-treated LDL was subjected to oxidation in the presence of 5 microM CuSO4 for as long as 48 hours. The rate of formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, the decrease in isoelectric point, the increase in relative electrophoretic mobility of LDL, the higher degradation rate by human macrophages, and the lower degradation rate by human arterial smooth muscle cells showed that LDLs exposed to CSPGs and GAGs were significantly more susceptible to oxidation than native LDL. Results from competition experiments indicate that C6S-treated LDL after 4 hours of oxidation is taken up via the acetylated LDL receptor in human macrophages. Coincubation of lipoproteins with human macrophages or human arterial smooth muscle cells for 24 hours also indicated that C6S-treated LDL was more susceptible to cell-induced modifications than native LDL. The occurrence in vivo of similar processes may contribute to focal retention, increased rate oxidation of LDL in the arterial intima, and foam cell formation during atherogenesis.

Arteries↗

[Changes in the serum lipid fractions of malnourished children with and without clinical infection. Paradoxical hypertriglyceridemia in malnutrition].

We have studied the levels of total triglycerides, total cholesterol and high, low and very low density lipoproteins, in serum from undernourished children and from eutrophic controls matched by age, race and socioeconomical condition with the undernourished group. Malnourished children were classified according to the severity of the nutritional deficiency and according to the presence or absence of associated overt infections. Serum lipids fractions were evaluated by colorimetric procedures and by electrophoretic isolation and elution of the desired lipoprotein followed by colorimetric evaluation of the cholesterol content. Increased levels of total triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins were observed in the undernourished group. The rise in the levels of total triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins was more marked in children with moderate and severe undernutrition as well as in undernourished with associated overt infection. In contrast, as expected, serum levels of total cholesterol, high density and low density lipoproteins were significantly diminished in undernourished children. The depression in the amount of total cholesterol, high density and low density lipoproteins was more marked in the severe forms of undernutrition. Increased levels of total triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein could be determined by a defect in the clearance of these lipid fractions due to depressed activity of lipoprotein lipase.

Child↗