PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G M Kostner

Publications and source records attributed to G M Kostner.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Lipoprotein receptors and atherosclerosis.

The whole lipoprotein spectrum of human plasma may be divided into atherosclerotic and anti-atherosclerotic lipoproteins. To the first class belong apolipoprotein (apo) B and some apoE-containing lipoproteins of the very-low-density (VLDL), intermediate-density (IDL) and low-density (LDL) lipoprotein fractions. Anti-atherosclerotic lipoproteins are apoA-containing high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Circulating plasma lipoproteins are catabolized mainly by specific cell surface receptors (R) which react with apoB and apoE (B/E-R), for apoE (E-R) or for apoA (HDL-R). Whereas the B/E-R and E-R are responsible for the cellular uptake of lipoproteins and their lipid load by various organs, HDL-R are thought to promote lipid (cholesterol) efflux. There is an additional class of lipoprotein receptors, the so called scavenger-R which are responsible for the removal of altered or degraded lipoproteins for the circulation. Under normal physiological conditions, the concerted action of these receptors warrants efficient lipoprotein turnover and direction into target organs. Derangements of this system, however, may lead to the deposition and accumulation of atherogenic lipids, notably free cholesterol (FC) and cholesteryl esters (CE) in arterial tissue causing atherosclerosis and cardiac death.

Apolipoproteins A↗
PubMed1989

The contribution of individual lipoproteins to the degradation of platelet-activating factor in human serum.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is rapidly degraded in vivo by the action of a specific acetylhydrolase. Measuring the PAF-acetylhydrolase activity in serum from 12 healthy volunteers a maximum velocity of 67.2 +/- 11.8 nmol/min X ml and a Km value of 15.8 +/- 2.9 mumol/l were ascertained. More than 90% of the activity was found to be associated with lipoproteins. It was detected in isolated VLDL, LDL, Lp(a) as well as HDL2 but not in HDL3. The PAF-acetylhydrolase activities associated with the various lipoproteins were shown to behave like a unique enzyme with distinct kinetic properties. Because VLDL and LDL were found to take up about 5 and 2.5 times more PAF with respect to their mass than HDL, it is concluded that lipoproteins affect the PAF-acetylhydrolase activity at the level of substrate presentation. As a consequence of the distinct kinetic properties, the lipoprotein-associated PAF-acetylhydrolase activities do not contribute proportionately to the degradation of PAF in serum. The latter is shown to depend primarily on the amount of PAF-acetylhydrolase bound to the apoprotein B-containing lipoproteins.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗
PubMed1989

HMG CoA reductase inhibitors lower LDL cholesterol without reducing Lp(a) levels.

Lp(a) is a plasma lipoprotein particle consisting of a plasminogenlike protein [apo(a)] disulfide bonded to the apo B moiety of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Increased plasma levels of Lp(a), either independently or interactively with LDL levels, have been shown to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Recently, a new class of lipid-lowering drugs, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, have been introduced. These drugs act by decreasing liver cholesterol synthesis resulting in up-regulation of LDL receptors, increased clearance of LDL from plasma, and diminution of plasma LDL levels. In this study, we examined the effect of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors on Lp(a) levels in three groups of subjects, five volunteers and two groups of five and 14 patients. In all 24 subjects, mean decreases were observed in total cholesterol (43 +/- 5%), total triglyceride (35 +/- 8%), very low-density lipoprotein (45 +/- 9%), and LDL cholesterol (43 +/- 5%). The mean change in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was an increase of 7 +/- 8%. Despite the very significant decrease in LDL cholesterol levels (p less than 0.001), Lp(a) levels increased by 33 +/- 12% (p less than 0.005). This was not associated with a measurable change in the chemical composition or size of the Lp(a) particle. This emphatically suggests that Lp(a) particles, despite consisting principally of LDL, are cleared from plasma differently than LDL. The surprising finding of an increase in Lp(a) levels suggests this class of drugs may have a direct effect on Lp(a) synthesis or clearance independent of its effect on LDL receptors.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Lp(a) lipoprotein concentration in serum of patients with heavy proteinuria of different origin.

We measured serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and lipoprotein Lp(a) concentrations in serum of 37 patients with massive proteinuria of different origin, comparing values with those for age- and sex-matched controls and finding significantly increased Lp(a) concentration in the total group of patients compared with controls. Lp(a) concentration was not correlated with serum cholesterol, triglyceride, serum creatinine, daily urinary protein loss, or selectivity index. Selecting the patients according to their histological diagnosis obtained by renal needle biopsy, we found divergent results in seven patients with minimal change disease (MCD) compared with 11 patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Lp(a) in MCD patients did not differ from that controls (101 +/- 102 and 90 +/- 115 mg/L) and correlated positively with total daily urinary protein loss (r = 0.7962, P less than 0.05). In contrast, the patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis had significantly higher Lp(a) values than the controls (219 +/- 222 mg/L), and Lp(a) concentrations correlated negatively with the daily protein loss in urine (r = -0.6545, P less than 0.05). The most surprising results were the marked Lp(a) concentrations in serum of three patients with primary amyloidosis and nephrosis syndrome. Our results indicate a regulatory role of the kidney in the metabolism of Lp(a) and different effects on the serum Lp(a) concentration, depending on the type of damage to renal tissue.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Lipoprotein (a) and plasminogen are immunochemically related.

Earlier studies demonstrated that lipoprotein (a), a lipoprotein of high atherogenicity, possesses proteolytic activity. In this report, we provide evidence that the lipoprotein (a)-specific antigen, apoprotein (a) is immunochemically related to plasminogen. This was demonstrated by polyclonal antisera from rabbit, sheep and horse, and with three monoclonal antibodies from mouse. Using immunospecific adsorbers against lipoprotein (a), all plasminogen could be adsorbed from lipoprotein (a)-positive and apparently lipoprotein (a)-negative plasma. As an additional similarity to plasminogen, lipoprotein (a) binds selectively to lysine-Sepharose, but with a somewhat lower affinity. In an assay system for measuring the fibrinolytic activity challenged with streptokinase, lipoprotein (a) prolonged strikingly the fibrinolysis time under certain experimental conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Activation of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase by apolipoprotein D: comparison of proteoliposomes containing apolipoprotein D, A-I or C-I.

To study the activation of lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) (phosphatidylcholine:sterol O-acyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.43) by apolipoprotein D in comparison to apolipoproteins A-I and C-I, proteoliposomes with a phosphatidylcholine/free cholesterol molar ratio of 24:1, containing 10-300 micrograms/ml of apolipoproteins were used. The proteoliposomes were prepared by the cholate dialysis technique. In all proteoliposome preparations we found rouleaux structures and stacked discs. The particles formed with apolipoprotein A-I were the most homogeneous, followed by apolipoprotein D- and apolipoprotein C-I-containing particles. Apolipoprotein A-I was the most potent LCAT activator in our system followed by apolipoproteins C-I and D. The fractional esterification rate observed with apolipoprotein D-containing substrates amounted to 15-48% that of apolipoprotein A-I-containing ones. Neither apolipoprotein A-I- nor C-I-containing proteoliposomes gave linear reaction kinetics with LCAT. Even during the first 15-30 min of incubation, the kinetics deviated strikingly from linearity at all apolipoprotein concentrations. In contrast, proteoliposomes containing apolipoprotein D exhibited linear reaction kinetics up to 60-90 min. At low apolipoprotein A-I concentrations (5 micrograms/ml), the addition of apolipoprotein D to the incubates resulted in significantly higher esterification rates as compared to substrates containing apolipoprotein A-I only. This was not the case using substrates with high apolipoprotein A-I concentrations (50 micrograms/ml). From our results we speculate that apolipoprotein D may have some stabilizing effect on the enzyme LCAT.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1988

Interaction of LDL, Lp[a], and reduced Lp[a] with monoclonal antibodies against apoB.

Five monoclonal antibodies (2A, 9A, 6B, L3, L7) produced in mice against human apolipoprotein B were investigated by competitive and inhibitive electroimmunoassay (EIA) for their reactivity with low density lipoprotein (LDL), lipoprotein[a] (Lp[a]), and reduced Lp[a]. All of the antibodies reacted with apoB of the different lipoproteins indicated by very similar slopes of the binding curves. None of them gave a positive reaction with apolipoprotein[a]. The amount of apoB required for 50% inhibition of antibody binding varied for the different antibodies and lipoproteins. Antibody 9A showed almost the same affinity for LDL, Lp[a], and reduced Lp[a]. Antibodies 2A and 6B bound about twofold better to LDL and reduced Lp[a] than to untreated Lp[a]. Antibodies L3 and L7 needed nearly threefold higher amounts of Lp[a]-apoB for 50% inhibition of antibody binding than of apoB of LDL and reduced Lp[a]. The amount of apoB required for 50% inhibition of antibody binding was somewhat higher in inhibitive assay than in competitive assay. We suggest that apo[a] covers certain epitopes of apoB in native Lp[a] leading to a reduced reaction with the monoclonal antibodies. However, it could also be that the binding of the [a]antigen to apoB via disulfide bridges causes profound conformational changes of the apoB region exposed to the surface.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

A new micromethod for routine measurement of serum LDL-apolipoprotein B.

A new method for low density lipoprotein (LDL) (d 1.019-1.063 g/ml)-apolipoprotein B (apoB) determination has been developed, based on the fact that very low density and intermediate density lipoproteins (VLDL and IDL) contain apolipoprotein C-I (apoC-I), whereas this apolipoprotein is apparently absent in LDL. VLDL and IDL were quantitatively precipitated with a monospecific anti-apoC-I antibody whereafter LDL-apoB in the supernatant was quantitated by Laurell rocket electrophoresis. Over a wide range of cholesterol and triglyceride values there was a linear correlation with LDL-apoB values measured after ultracentrifugation. The method would be useful for routine measurements, especially in children, since only 25 microliter of serum is required, and for making the diagnosis of hyperapobetalipoproteinemia, which at present is complicated.

Apolipoproteins B↗
PubMed1988

Interaction of various lipoproteins from normal and dyslipoproteinemic plasma with mouse peritoneal macrophages.

In this study we tried to elucidate the atherogenicity of various plasma lipoproteins with respect to their capability of foam cell formation. Mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) were incubated with increasing amounts of lipoproteins and the incorporation of 14C oleate into the cholesteryl ester fraction was followed. The results may be summarized as follows: freshly isolated Lp(a) behaves very similar to normal LDL causing no or little increase in CE formation in MPM. Lp(a) treated with dextran sulfate as well as with antibodies to Apo-a, strongly interact with scavenger receptors causing massive accumulation of CE in MPM. The abnormal lipoproteins from patients suffering from liver disease, LP-X, HDL-E cause no increase in CE formation of MPM. They behave very similar to artificial PL/FC liposomes. If on the other hand these abnormal lipoproteins are mixed with Ac-LDL, a synergistic effect was observed causing an approx. 30 per cent increase in CE-formation as compared to Ac-LDL alone. This was caused by a net transfer of FC from abnormal lipoproteins to Ac-LDL alone. This was caused by a net transfer of FC from abnormal lipoproteins to Ac-LDL. It is concluded that the lipoproteins studied in this report by itself exert no atherogenic function in MPM. They may, however, aggravate the atherogenicity of other processes known to be involved in the development of vascular diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Action of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase on low-density lipoproteins in native pig plasma.

The action of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT, EC 2.3.1.43) on the different pig lipoprotein classes was investigated with emphasis on low-density lipoproteins (LDL). It was demonstrated previously that LDL can serve as substrate for LCAT, probably because they contain sufficient amounts of apoA-I and other non-apoB proteins, known as LCAT activators. Upon a 24-h incubation of pig plasma in vitro in the presence of active LCAT, both pig LDL subclasses, LDL-1 and LDL-2, fused together, forming one fraction, as revealed by analytical ultracentrifugation. This fusion was time dependent, becoming visible after 3 h and complete after 18 h of incubation. Concomitantly, free cholesterol and phospholipids decreased and cholesteryl esters increased. When isolated LDL-1 and LDL-2 were incubated with purified pig LCAT for 24 h, LDL-1 floated toward higher densities and LDL-2 toward lower densities, although this effect was not as pronounced as in incubations of whole serum. In further experiments, pig serum was incubated for various periods of time in the presence and absence of the LCAT inhibitor sodium iodoacetate. The individual lipoproteins then were separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation or by specific immunoprecipitation and chemically analyzed. Both methods revealed that in the absence of active LCAT there was a transfer of free cholesterol from LDL to high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and a small transfer of cholesteryl esters in the opposite direction. In the presence of LCAT the loss of free cholesterol started immediately in all three lipoprotein classes, was most prominent in LDL, and was proportional to the newly synthesized cholesteryl esters incorporated in each fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Quantitative measurement of 5-, 12-, and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid together with 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry.

A stable isotope dilution gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry assay for simultaneous quantitative measurement of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), 12-HETE, 15-HETE, and 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid in one single GC/MS run was established. 18O2-Labeled analogs as internal standards, prepared according to conventional procedures, were found to be useful for this application. A sample processing and derivatization sequence providing highly purified compounds with a recovery of 42.7% was elaborated. The detection limit was in the femtomole range.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗
PubMed1987

Free and Apo B-associated Lpa-specific protein in human serum.

The distribution of Lpa-specific protein (Apo A) among various fractions of human serum was investigated. The following results were obtained. In very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) of fasting human serum Apo A cannot be detected. Most of Apo A is complexed to LDL forming lipoprotein a (Lpa) present in the density fraction of 1.006-1.125 g/ml. Only approximately 5% of Apo A are found in the d greater than 1.125 bottom fraction after ultracentrifugation. Phosphotungstate-Mg (PTA), heparin-Mn (Hep) and dextran sulfate-Mg (DS) precipitate approximately 95% of serum Lpa together with the Apo B containing lipoproteins. Also monospecific antibodies against Apo B do not precipitate all Lpa and leave approximately 3% of Apo A in the supernatant. With polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the other hand, virtually all Lpa is removed since this reagent also precipitates Lpa and Apo A. Apo A of the bottom fraction after ultracentrifugation and of the supernatant after selective precipitation is not stainable with Sudan black and probably represents a protein which is not associated with lipids.

Adolescent↗