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Jacques Genest

Publications and source records attributed to Jacques Genest.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Structural and functional properties of human plasma high density-sized lipoprotein containing only apoE particles.

To investigate the metabolism of HDL-apolipoprotein E (apoE) particles in human plasma, we isolated a fraction of plasma HDL-apoEs that lack apoA-I (HDL-LpE) from subjects with apoE3/3 phenotype by immunoaffinity. Plasma HDL-LpE had a particle size ranging from 9 nm to 18.5 nm in diameter and was characterized by two-dimensional nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis as having either gamma-, prebeta1-, prebeta2-, or alpha-electrophoretic mobility. HDL-LpE was also present in the medium of cultured human hepatoma cell lines and monocyte-derived macrophages. The majority of apoE3 was found as a monomeric form in HDL-LpE and floated at density d > 1.21 g/ml. Plasma levels of HDL-LpE in normolipidemic, CETP-deficient, and ABCA1-deficient subjects were 0.72 +/- 0.15 mg/dl (n = 12), 1.77 +/- 0.75 mg/dl (n = 3), and 0.55 +/- 0.11 mg/dl (n = 3), respectively. The ratio of HDL-apoE containing apoA-I to HDL-LpE was significantly higher 4 h after a fat load, representing a 35 +/- 9% increase (n = 3). Isolated plasma HDL-LpE3 was as effective as apoE3, reconstituted HDL particles, or apoA-I in promoting cellular cholesterol efflux. These results demonstrate that 1) plasma HDL-LpE may have hepatogenous and macrophagic origins; 2) HDL-LpE was preserved even with large reductions in apoA-I-containing lipoproteins; 3) HDL-LpE was active in the transfer of apoE to triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and 4) HDL-LpEs efficiently take up cell-derived cholesterol.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed2003

Compound heterozygosity at the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase-1 (SMPD1) gene is associated with low HDL cholesterol.

Type A and B forms of Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) are lipid storage disorders caused by deficient activity of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) and the resulting accumulation of sphingomyelin in tissues. In the present study, we investigated two family members who had been diagnosed with Type B NPD and who had a severe decrease in plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The proband (a 48-year-old male) had an HDL-C of 0.30 mmol/l (12 mg/dl) and his sister had values of 0.45 mmol/l (17 mg/dl) with severe premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypertriglyceridemia was found in both cases. aSMase activity measured in skin fibroblasts appeared markedly depressed. The SMPD1 gene, coding for aSMase, was sequenced in affected subjects and all family members. Compound heterozygosity (DeltaR608 and R441X) was identified in both affected patients. Carriers of the DeltaR608 mutation tended to have moderately to severe decreased HDL-C levels, whereas carriers of the R441X mutation, although present only in young subjects (<20 years of age) had normal HDL-C levels. To investigate the cause of the low HDL-C level in these patients, we studied apoA-I-mediated cellular cholesterol efflux in fibroblasts. Unlike patients with Tangier disease, cholesterol efflux was found to be normal under the experimental conditions used in the present study. On the other hand, we observed a significant increase in the free cholesterol:esterified cholesterol ratio in HDL fraction from these patients and a decrease in endogenous lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, as determined by the fractional esterification rate. Taken together, these results suggest that (1) compound heterozygosity at the SMPD1 gene causes a severe decrease in aSMase activity and in HDL-C and increases the risk of CAD, (2) this lipoprotein abnormality is not attributable to defective cellular cholesterol efflux, (3) abnormal HDL composition might cause a decrease in LCAT activity and a lack of HDL maturation.

Cholesterol, HDL↗
PubMed2003

Secretory vesicular transport from the Golgi is altered during ATP-binding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1)-mediated cholesterol efflux.

Apolipoprotein AI (apoAI)-mediated cholesterol efflux is a process by which cells export excess cellular cholesterol to apoAI to form high density lipoprotein. ATP-binding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1) has recently been identified as the key regulator of this process. The pathways of intracellular cholesterol transport during efflux are largely unknown nor is the molecular mechanism by which ABCA1 governs cholesterol efflux well understood. Here, we report that, in both macrophages and fibroblasts, the secretory vesicular transport changes in response to apoAI-mediated cholesterol efflux. Vesicular transport from the Golgi to the plasma membrane increased 2-fold during efflux. This increase in vesicular transport during efflux was observed in both raft-poor and raft-rich vesicle populations originated from the Golgi. Importantly, enhanced vesicular transport in response to apoAI is absent in Tangier fibroblasts, a cell type with deficient cholesterol efflux due to functional ABCA1 mutations. These findings are consistent with an efflux model whereby cholesterol is transported from the storage site to the plasma membrane via the Golgi. ABCA1 may influence cholesterol efflux in part by enhancing vesicular trafficking from the Golgi to the plasma membrane.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗
PubMed2003

Homocysteine-betaine interactions in a murine model of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency.

Hyperhomocysteinemia, a proposed risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is also observed in other common disorders. The most frequent genetic cause of hyperhomocysteinemia is a mutated methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), predominantly when folate status is impaired. MTHFR synthesizes a major methyl donor for homocysteine remethylation to methionine. We administered the alternate choline-derived methyl donor, betaine, to wild-type mice and to littermates with mild or severe hyperhomocysteinemia due to hetero- or homozygosity for a disruption of the Mthfr gene. On control diets, plasma homocysteine and liver choline metabolite levels were strongly dependent on the Mthfr genotype. Betaine supplementation decreased homocysteine in all three genotypes, restored liver betaine and phosphocholine pools, and prevented severe steatosis in Mthfr-deficient mice. Increasing betaine intake did not further decrease homocysteine. In humans with cardiovascular disease, we found a significant negative correlation between plasma betaine and homocysteine concentrations. Our results emphasize the strong interrelationship between homocysteine, folate, and choline metabolism. Hyperhomocysteinemic Mthfr-compromised mice appear to be much more sensitive to changes of choline/betaine intake than do wild-type animals. Hyperhomocysteinemia, in the range of that associated with folate deficiency or with homozygosity for the 677T MTHFR variant, may be associated with disturbed choline metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The nested case-control study in cardiology.

BACKGROUND: The nested case-control study is an efficient epidemiological design whereby a case-control approach is employed within an established cohort. The large number of recent prospective studies and randomized trials conducted in cardiology provide cohorts within which the nested case-control approach is increasingly used. METHODS: This paper describes the design of the nested case-control study, and evaluates its role in cardiology by reviewing all such studies indexed in Medline from 1966 to 2000. The example of homocysteine is used to illustrate how discrepancies between results of nested case-control and case-control studies played an important role in the decisions and recommendations of national and international organizations. RESULTS: Seventy-seven nested case-control studies in cardiology were reviewed. The number of studies per year has been increasing since the first publication in 1987. The majority (96%) of studies evaluated potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease while the remainder evaluated drugs with cardiac adverse effects. In studies of homocysteine and coronary artery disease, nested case-control studies did not confirm the strong association suggested by early case-control studies that may have been influenced by bias (eg, selection, publication, or reverse causality). This led national and international organizations to advise against routine screening. CONCLUSIONS: The nested case-control study is increasingly used to study causal relationships in cardiology. The large cohorts of cardiac patients created by prospective studies, clinical trials, and administrative databases should be exploited using this methodology to assess potential cardiac risk factors and other causal relationships that cannot be studied in randomized trials.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2003

Expression, regulation, and activity of ABCA1 in human cell lines.

Mutations in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene cause familial high-density lipoprotein deficiency and Tangier disease. ABCA1 plays a crucial role in active apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) lipidation, a key step in reverse cholesterol transport. We compared ABCA1 transcriptional regulation and cholesterol efflux in human skin fibroblasts, monocyte-derived macrophages and hepatocytes (HepG2). 8-Br-cAMP did not increase ABCA1 transcription in these tissues compared to mouse macrophages. We found that ABCA1 is differentially regulated among tissues. While transcription in HepG2 appears to be constitutive, sterols stimulate ABCA1 transcription in fibroblasts and monocyte-derived macrophages. ApoA-I promoted cholesterol efflux in fibroblasts, macrophages, and HepG2. Cholesterol homeostasis in fibroblasts is tightly regulated, and ABCA1 mRNA closely follows the cellular mass of free cholesterol (dose- and time-dependent manner). To further determine the mechanism used by fibroblasts to maintain sterol balance, we used a competitive inhibition approach with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) to block the LXR induction pathway. GGPP blocked basal, 22-(R)-hydroxycholesterol- and cholesterol-induced ABCA1 expression. Taken together, these results demonstrate that: (1) ABCA1 expression varies among tissues, and (2) cholesterol conversion to hydroxycholesterol is an important mechanism for the maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis in fibroblasts.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed2002

Effects on apoB-100 secretion and bile acid synthesis by redirecting cholesterol efflux from HepG2 cells.

This study determined the effects of apoA-I, HDL3, or hydroxy-beta-cyclodextrin on apoB-100 secretion and bile acid synthesis by HepG2 cells. The principal observations were that: 1) ApoB-100 secretion into the medium was significantly less after the addition of any of the three agents. 2) Triglyceride mass was not significantly changed from control in the medium but was significantly, although modestly, reduced in the cells. 3) Neither free cholesterol (FC) nor cholesteryl ester (CE) mass in the medium was changed; by contrast, CE mass was reduced within the cells although FC was not. 4) Although the total mass of cholesterol in the medium was unaffected, the proportion associated with apoB-100 was reduced, whereas the proportion associated with the non-apoB-100 fraction was increased. 5) There was also an unanticipated, but substantial, increase in bile acid synthesis induced by apoA-I, HDL3, or hydroxy-beta-cyclodextrin, which was time and concentration dependent, and which was associated with marked increases in cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity. There were no significant changes in ACAT activity and only modest increases in HMG-CoA reductase activity. These findings support previous clinical observations that an elevated apoB-100 can accompany a low HDL cholesterol in normotriglyceridemic subjects. They also point to physiologically important, although still only partially understood, metabolic relationships amongst hepatic apoB-100 secretion, cholesterol efflux, and bile acid synthesis.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed2002

Plasma homocysteine concentration changes after renal transplantation in children.

Hyperhomocysteinemia, a risk factor for vascular disease, is found in children as well as in 80% of adult patients with end-stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in plasma homocysteine concentrations after renal transplantation (RT). Plasma homocysteine, vitamin B(12), and folate concentrations were prospectively measured in six patients at three points, before and post transplantation (6 months, 4 years), and compared with controls using standardized scores (Z score) for each of these parameters. Folic acid supplementation was introduced after the evaluation at 6 months. Patients had elevated median plasma homocysteine Z scores during dialysis (4.12). When assessed at 6 months and 4 years, median plasma homocysteine Z scores were, respectively, 2.35 and 0.29. Median folate Z scores were 1.89 during dialysis, -0.26 at 6 months, and 3.26 at 4 years post RT. Median vitamin B(12) Z score was 2.12 during dialysis, 0.58 at 6 months, and -0.07 at 4 years post RT. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) improved after RT, with median GFR of 84.5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) at 6 months. This stabilized to a value of 70.5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) at 4 years. When comparing values before and after RT at 6 months, changes were observed only for GFR ( P<0.03) and vitamin B(12) ( P<0.05). There were no changes in plasma homocysteine, folate, and serum albumin. At 4 years, a significant decrease in plasma homocysteine was observed ( P<0.05) with increased GFR ( P<0.03). No significant changes were observed in plasma albumin, folate, and vitamin B(12) concentrations. In conclusion, elevated plasma homocysteine in children during dialysis persists after RT despite a significant improvement in renal function. However, normalization was attained when patients were supplemented with folic acid. Further controlled studies are required to evaluate the determinants and treatment of elevated plasma homocysteine in pediatric transplant patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

cAMP induces ABCA1 phosphorylation activity and promotes cholesterol efflux from fibroblasts.

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays a crucial role in apoA-I lipidation, a key step in reverse cholesterol transport. cAMP induces apoA-I binding activity and promotes cellular cholesterol efflux. We investigated the role of the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) dependent pathway in the regulation of cellular cholesterol efflux. Treatment of normal fibroblasts with 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) increased significantly apoA-I-mediated cholesterol efflux, with specificity for apoA-I, but not for cyclodextrin. Concomitantly, 8-Br-cAMP increased ABCA1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner. Maximum phosphorylation was reached in <10 min, representing a 260% increase compared to basal ABCA1 phosphorylation level. Forskolin, a known cAMP regulator, increased both cellular cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 phosphorylation. In contrast, H-89 PKA inhibitor reduced cellular cholesterol efflux by 70% in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited almost completely ABCA1 phosphorylation. To determine whether naturally occurring mutants of ABCA1 may affect its phosphorylation activity, fibroblasts from subjects with familial HDL deficiency (FHD, heterozygous ABCA1 defect) and Tangier disease (TD, homozygous/compound heterozygous ABCA1 defect) were treated with 8-Br-cAMP or forskolin. Cellular cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 phosphorylation were increased in FHD but not in TD cells. Taken together, these findings provide evidence for a link between the cAMP/PKA-dependent pathway, ABCA1 phosphorylation, and apoA-I mediated cellular cholesterol efflux.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗
PubMed2002

Truncation mutations in ABCA1 suppress normal upregulation of full-length ABCA1 by 9-cis-retinoic acid and 22-R-hydroxycholesterol.

Mutations in ABCA1 uniformly decrease plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and reduce cholesterol efflux, yet different mutations in ABCA1 result in different phenotypic effects in heterozygotes. For example, truncation mutations result in significantly lower HDL-C and apoliprotein A-I (apoA-I) levels in heterozygotes compared with nontruncation mutations, suggesting that truncation mutations may negatively affect the wild-type allele. To specifically test this hypothesis, we examined ABCA1 protein expression in response to 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) and 22-R-hydroxycholesterol (22-R-OH-Chol) in a collection of human fibroblasts representing eight different mutations and observed that truncation mutations blunted the response to oxysterol stimulation and dominantly suppressed induction of the remaining full-length allele to 5-10% of wild-type levels. mRNA levels between truncation and nontruncation mutations were comparable, suggesting that ABCA1 expression was suppressed at the protein level. Dominant negative activity of truncated ABCA1 was recapitulated in an in vitro model using transfected Cos-7 cells. Our results suggest that the severe reduction of HDL-C in patients with truncation mutations may be at least partly explained by dominant negative suppression of expression and activity of the remaining full-length ABCA1 allele. These data suggest that ABCA1 requires a physical association with itself or other molecules for normal function and has important pharmacogenetic implications for individuals with truncation mutations.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetics and prevention: a new look at high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Plasma level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is inversely correlated with coronary artery disease. High-density lipoprotein particles are thought to mediate the uptake of peripheral cholesterol and, through exchange of core lipids with other lipoproteins or selective uptake by specific receptors, return this cholesterol to the liver for bile acid secretion. During the past decade, high-density lipoprotein particles have been found to modulate thrombosis, cell adhesion molecule expression, vasomotor function, platelet function, and endothelial cell apoptosis and proliferation. Many of these effects involve the signal transduction pathway and gene transcription. Genetic disorders of high-density lipoproteins have been characterized at the molecular level. Mutations within the genes involved in the structure and metabolism of high-density lipoproteins can cause high-density lipoprotein deficiency or elevations in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Some mutations causing high-density lipoprotein deficiency are associated with premature coronary artery disease, whereas others, paradoxically, may be associated with longevity. Modulation of high-density lipoprotein metabolism for therapeutic purposes must take into account not only the cholesterol content of the particle but also its lipid (including phospholipid) composition, apolipoprotein content, size, and charge.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗