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Biomedical subjects

I Myara

Publications and source records attributed to I Myara.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Reactivity of lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) towards glycated high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

Hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients results in non-enzymatic glycation of plasma proteins, including lipoproteins such as high-density lipoproteins (HDL). We studied the effects of in vitro HDL glycation on the activity of lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT), a key enzyme in HDL plasma metabolism. LCAT was prepared from non-diabetic subjects and HDL by sequential density ultracentrifugation (in the density range of 1.063-1.21 g/ml) from both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. HDL from non-diabetic patients were glycated in vitro by incubating lipoproteins with 100 mmol/l glucose for various times at 37 degrees C with sodium cyanoborohydride as reducing agent. Glycation of HDL protein was quantified by measuring the percentage of derived amino acid residues using the TNBS assay. Kinetic parameters of LCAT were first determined using native HDL from non-diabetic patients and in vitro glycated HDL. With native HDL, Km and Vmax were 51.1 +/- 4.2 mumol/l (n = 8) and 12.9 +/- 2.4 nmol/ml/h (n = 8), respectively. Enzyme reactivity, calculated as the Vmax/Km ratio, was 0.25 +/- 0.04 h-1 (n = 8). In the case of moderate glycation (derived residues < 30%; n = 19) a significant increase in both Km (18.2 +/- 3.4%; mean +/- S.D.) and Vmax (9.3 +/- 2.4%) was observed. In contrast, with a high level of glycation (derived residues > 30%; n = 8), both parameters fell (Km, 25 +/- 6.3%; Vmax, 34.1 +/- 3.3%). In addition, whatever the level of glycation, enzyme reactivity was lower in the presence of in vitro glycated HDL. This decrease in LCAT reactivity was not due to a peroxidative process nor to an alteration of the protein and lipid composition of in vitro glycated HDL. It could, however, be explained by glycation of lysine residues in apolipoprotein A-I, which is the most potent activator of LCAT. In a second series of experiments, native diabetic HDL preparations were used as LCAT substrate. No alteration in Km values was observed, but there was a significant decrease in both Vmax (28%) and enzyme reactivity (32%). This difference in Km and Vmax alterations between native diabetic HDL and in vitro glycated HDL with low levels of glycation might be explained by the impact of physiological modifications, other than glycation, which could differently affect the chemicophysical properties of HDL in diabetic patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of the sialic acid content of LDL as a marker of coronary calcification and extracoronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic subjects. PCVMETRA Group.

Recent studies have shown that the sialic acid content of LDL isolated from patients with angiographically demonstrated advanced coronary atherosclerosis is lower than that of LDL isolated from healthy subjects. These observations raise the question as to whether LDL sialic acid content could be used as an early marker of atherosclerosis. We screened for carotid, aortic, and femoral plaques by ultrasonography and for coronary calcifications by ultrafast computed tomography in 160 hypercholesterolemic subjects free of cardiovascular disease to investigate the relation between LDL sialic acid content and the prevalence of these early atherosclerotic lesions. LDL sialic acid values varied from 19.6 to 46.6 nmol/mg LDL protein (33.9 +/- 4.4, mean +/- SD) in the whole population, but the distribution was very similar: (1) in subjects with no plaque (34.1 +/- 4.9) relative to those with one or several plaques at one (34.2 +/- 4.4), two (33.0 +/- 3.6), or three (34.8 +/- 3.4) different arterial sites; (2) in subjects with (33.9 +/- 3.7) and without (34.1 +/- 4.8) coronary calcification; and (3) in subjects with both extracoronary and coronary lesions (33.8 +/- 3.9) relative to those with no arterial lesions (34.2 +/- 4.5). LDL sialic acid content was not related to sex, age, body mass index, smoking, blood pressure, or serum total cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) levels but correlated negatively with serum triglyceride levels (P < .001). These results suggest that LDL sialic acid content is not a discriminant marker of early atherosclerosis in asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Biology of the endothelial cell and atherogenesis].

Through their specific biological properties, vascular endothelial cells play a major role in maintaining the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system. The vascular endothelium participates actively in coagulation and fibrinolysis, contributes to regulating vascular tone, is involved in inflammation and immunological responses, produces several different stromal components, plays a crucial role in angiogenesis and wound-healing, and interacts with plasma lipoproteins. These physiological functions of endothelial cells are triggered by different endothelium derived mediators and are regulated by numerous environmental factors that can markedly modulate the functional state of these cells by affecting their biosynthetic capabilities, giving them different phenotypes in native, activated and injured states. Excessive endothelial activation leads to changes in endothelial cell gene expression, leading to what is referred to as a dysfunctional state. In this non-adaptative functional state, endothelial cells lose the ability to adjust, within the physiological range, some of their constitutive functions and express newly induced molecules, some of which act as proatherosclerotic factors. Activated endothelial cells thus participate actively in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1995

[Genetic variation in the apolipoprotein B gene].

It is well known that coronary heart disease (CHD) is multifactorial, with environmental and inherited risk factors both playing a role. Apolipoprotein B (apo B) is of major importance in lipoprotein metabolism and might play a central role in atherogenesis. The apo B gene is the obvious candidate gene to study the relations between lipid concentrations and CHD. Some rare mutations in the apo B gene affect plasma cholesterol levels, leading to either familial hypobetalipoproteinemia or familial defective apolipoprotein B100. Other frequent polymorphisms have little biological effect but, because of their high frequency, might contribute to the development of CHD in a given population. Many apo B gene polymorphisms are associated with variations in plasma lipid concentrations, including the response of plasma lipids to dietary intervention, and peripheral and coronary atherosclerosis. Age, body mass index and gender affect the degree and nature of the association between apo B genetic markers and normal lipid and lipoprotein levels. However, negative and contradictory results have also been reported. One likely explanation is differences between studies, including populations of different geographic origin, arbitrary definition of cases and controls and multiple criteria for CHD. Future work on the effect of the apo B locus on hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis must involve large numbers of patients belonging to carefully defined populations. Prospective studies using a combination of genetic markers in well-defined populations should lead to firm conclusions on the role of apo B in atherogenesis and coronary heart disease.

Apolipoproteins B↗
PubMed1994

Human kidney prolidase--purification, preincubation properties and immunological reactivity.

1. Prolidase I (EC 3.4.13.9) was purified from human kidney to SDS-PAGE homogeneity. The molecular weights of native and denatured purified enzyme were estimated to be 115,000 and 55,000, respectively. 2. Agarose electrophoresis revealed migration in the alpha 1 globulin region, and an isoelectric point (pl) of 4.65 was estimated by both isoelectric focusing (IEF) and the titration curve method. 3. Activation by preincubation for 24 hr at 37 degrees C with 1 mM MnCl2 was maintained throughout the purification steps, using gly-pro and phe-pro dipeptides as substrates. 4. Activation in the presence of gly-pro was higher (4.5- to 11-fold) than in the presence of phe-pro (1.3- to 2.3-fold). 5. Lineweaver-Burk plot consisted of one and two lines with gly-pro and phe-pro, respectively. Km, Vmax and the Vmax/Km ratio were increased and the two lines with phe-pro were conserved after prolonged preincubation. 6. A specific polyclonal antibody was raised in rabbits against the purified enzyme and immunoreactivity was investigated between rabbit antiserum and both prolidase I from various tissues and human kidney prolidase II. 7. Prolidase I from liver, erythrocytes and plasma was immunochemically identical to renal prolidase I. The polyclonal antibody did not react with prolidase II. 8. These results indicate that a specific immunoassay might be developed to investigate prolidase I protein in plasma and tissues from patients with prolidase deficiency and hepatic fibrosis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1994

[Cryoglobulinemia and hepatitis C virus].

Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that precipitate at low temperatures. They are easy to characterize by using sensitive techniques such as immunofixation and immunoblotting. Recently, hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been found to be associated with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia. The different frequencies reported might be explained by heterogeneity in patient subpopulations and advances in serologic tests. In addition to commercial kits to detect HCV antibodies, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of HCV RNA can now be applied to serum or cryoprecipitates. The pathogenic role of hepatitis C virus is well known, but the precise mechanism remains to be determined.

Cryoglobulinemia↗
PubMed1993

Copper- and malondialdehyde-induced modification of high density lipoprotein and parallel loss of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activation.

Incubation of high density lipoproteins (HDL) with 0.1-10 microM copper ions resulted in a decrease in tryptophan residues and a moderate diminution of lysine residues. Polymerization of apolipoprotein AI (apo A-I) was only observed for the highest concentration of Cu2+. A dose-dependent loss in lecithin cholesterol acyl-transferase (LCAT) activity was noted. Following incubation with 10 mM malondialdehyde, the physicochemical properties of HDL were more pronouncedly affected, in terms of lipid peroxidation products, relative electrophoretic mobility and percentages of intact tryptophan and lysine residues. Polymerization of apo A-I occurred after 40 min incubation, and a time-dependent loss of LCAT activation was noted. Since the deficiency in LCAT activation was observed in relatively mild conditions, when no perturbation of the physico-chemical properties of the particle could be shown, the determination of LCAT activity appears to be a sensitive test for HDL discrete modification.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed1993

A method to screen for the antioxidant effect of compounds on low-density lipoprotein (LDL): illustration with flavonoids.

We used a recently described anion-exchange chromatographic method (Vedie et al. J Lipid Res 1991;32:1359) to study the protective effect of potential inhibitors of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation mediated by cupric ion. By way of an example, we studied eight flavonoids (flavone, 3-hydroxyflavone, chrysin, galangin, fisetin, morin, quercetin, and myricetin) as well as three non-flavonoid antioxidants, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), probucol, and vitamin C, as reference compounds. Each compound was tested at various concentrations (1-100 microM). For flavonoid concentrations of 10 microM, an index was calculated as the (LDL control-flavonoid)/(LDL control-probucol) ratio, in which each term is expressed as the percentage of the most electronegative LDL fraction (fraction E). If the index is positive, the flavonoid inhibits LDL oxidation. A value > 1 (3-hydroxyflavone and galangin) means greater activity than probucol, whereas a value < 1 means lower activity (fisetin). If the index is around 0 (flavone and chrysin), the flavonoid is inactive. Finally, a negative value reflects possible prooxidant activity (morin, quercetin, and myricetin). Our results show that this chromatographic method can be applied to screening new pharmacological agents for activity against LDL oxidation.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1992

Only prolidase I activity is present in human plasma.

1. After ion exchange chromatographic separation, liver prolidase exhibits two isoforms (prolidase I and II). 2. The activity of both was explored in human and rat tissues, and in normal and cytolytic human plasma. 3. The activity of prolidase I, eluted at the lowest ionic strength, was stimulated by 24 hr of preincubation with 1 mM MnCl2, but prolidase II activity was strongly inhibited by this long preincubation. In both normal and cytolytic human plasma, chromatographic separation also disclosed that only prolidase I activity was present. 4. This isoform displayed properties resembling those of liver and kidney prolidase I. 5. To explain the absence of prolidase II activity from the plasma, we tested the possibility that its tissue distribution differed. 6. However, this was not substantiated by the distribution found, or by the location, molecular weight and behavior of human liver prolidase II after neuraminidase treatment. 7. We also explored the hypothesis that plasma proteins inhibit prolidase II activity, and found that albumin almost abolished this activity after 6 hr incubation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Modified LDL and atherosclerosis. Nature of modifications. Physicochemical and biological properties].

The role of plasma LDL in atherogenesis is now well established. Cholesteryl ester accumulation within macrophages leads to foam cell formation, an early atherosclerotic process. In vitro, foam cell formation scarcely ever occurs in the presence of native LDL. Modification of these lipoproteins is necessary for their binding to macrophage scavenger receptors. In vitro modifications reported have involved chemical reactions, physical mechanisms, enzymatic reactions, cellular interactions and association with macromolecules. In vivo, they can occur by glycation or desialylation, smoking or by hemodynamic interactions. Alterations of the physicochemical properties of LDL are induced by oxidation and include an increase in their density and their net electronegative charge, changes in lecithin composition, polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation of lipids and apolipoprotein B100 degradation. Apolipoprotein B100 fragmentation leads to an impairment of uptake through LDL receptors, while uptake through macrophage scavenger receptors is enhanced. Modified LDL have also other particularities such as cytotoxicity, chemotactism for circulating monocytes, inhibition of resident macrophage mobility, vasoconstriction, perturbation of the arachidonic acid cascade, involvement in haemostasis and immune mechanisms. Hypotheses concerning the role of modified LDL, in particular oxidized LDL, in atherogenesis open new therapeutic prospects.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Fractionation of charge-modified low density lipoproteins by fast protein liquid chromatography.

We describe a methodology developed to separate different forms of charge-modified low density lipoproteins (LDL) using the fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) system from Pharmacia. Lipoproteins were isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation and introduced onto an anion-exchange column (Mono Q HR 5/5). The multistep NaCl gradient elution was optimized and the analytical variables were determined on copper-oxidized LDL. After oxidation by copper for various times (up to 48 h), five forms were obtained (fractions A, B, C, D, and E). Within-run and day-to-day reproducibility were better than 8.6% and 10%, respectively. Protein and cholesterol recovery after the chromatographic separation was good (greater than 82%) and the detection limit was about 1 microgram. The more negative forms of collected LDL were mainly characterized by an increase in the lipid peroxidation product content, a depletion of vitamin E, an alteration of apoB and increased degradation by macrophages. The proposed methodology was applied to the study of LDL modifications generated by human umbilical endothelial cells and the protective effect of antioxidants (vitamin E and probucol).

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1991

Monoclonal and oligoclonal gammopathies in heart-transplant recipients.

Immunoglobulin abnormalities in serum from 76 heart-transplant recipients were examined by cellulose acetate and agarose gel electrophoresis. Monoclonal components were typed by immunofixation. IgG, IgA, and IgM and total kappa and lambda light chains were quantified by immunonephelometry. We confirm that both monoclonal and oligoclonal immunoglobulin banding are common in serum from these patients. Of the 149 serum samples examined, 21 (15%) had one monoclonal component and 53 (35%) had two or more. These monoclonal immunoglobulins were generally present at a low concentration and were transient. The class of immunoglobulins most commonly involved was IgG (about sevenfold more numerous than IgM); monoclonal IgA components and free light chains were not detected. The nephelometric kappa/lambda and heavy chain/light chain ratios were poor indicators of these abnormalities. Immunoglobulin abnormalities were not correlated with the sex and age of recipients, the pre-existing cardiopathy, the time since transplantation, or plasma concentrations of cyclosporine, but did correlate with plasma immunoglobulin concentration, biopsy findings, and viral infections, especially cytomegalovirus (CMV). A monoclonal IgG purified from a patient with a high titer of anti-CMV antibodies did not react with CMV antigens. The origin of these immunoglobulin abnormalities is unclear. Our data suggest that the presence of monoclonal or oligoclonal banding in heart-transplant recipients is of limited prognostic significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Current role of the laboratory in the demonstration and follow up of monoclonal immunoglobulinopathy].

The interest of new methodologies (electrophoresis in agarose, immunofixation, quantitation of Ig G, Ig A, Ig M and light chains kappa/lambda ratio) to diagnose monoclonal gammopathies, was discussed. A strategy using a combination of these new procedures was exposed. Serum level of bêta-2 microglobulin can be used to monitor response to therapy in myeloma when the quantitation of monoclonal Ig is not possible.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗