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Biomedical subjects

H Nägele

Publications and source records attributed to H Nägele.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Elevated lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia decrease after successful chemotherapeutic treatment.

Twenty-two patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) were studied to investigate disease-associated changes in lipid metabolism. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels were found to be elevated at the time of diagnosis (median 23 mg/dl; 41% of patient group had levels greater than 25 mg/dl) and diminished after successful chemotherapeutic treatment in 9 of 10 cases, with a maximum decrease from 56 to 10 mg/dl. In contrast, reduced levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) (medians 137, 87 and 20 mg/dl, respectively) were observed at the time of diagnosis. Cholesterol and HDL levels increased in all 10 and LDL in 9 cases in which complete remission was achieved. These data suggest that the catabolism of LDL-cholesterol might be even more enhanced than assumed to date. Furthermore, it indicates that the Lp(a) level in acute myeloblastic leukaemia is influenced either directly or indirectly by the leukaemic blasts.

Adult

Metabolic changes during antihypertensive therapies.

There is controversy whether various classes of antihypertensive drugs can reduce significantly cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in primary prevention. A failure to show this in many studies was attributed, at least in part, to deleterious effects of these drugs on lipid metabolism. Especially adrenergic antihypertensives cause marked effects on lipoprotein levels in plasma. A review of the literature revealed that beta-blockers increase triglycerides and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein)-cholesterol and may lower plasma HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels. In contrast alpha 1-adrenergic inhibitors like prazosin, doxazosin and terazosin lower triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL (low density lipoprotein)- and VLDL-cholesterol and increase plasma HDL levels. The mechanisms by which alpha- and beta-blockers may produce the observed effects on plasma lipids and lipoproteins are not well understood. It has been shown in our laboratory that the activity of the LDL receptor of peripheral cells, a major determinant of cholesterol levels in plasma, is regulated by catecholamines via alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors. Accordingly, blockade of these adrenoceptors with alpha- and beta-adrenergic antagonists can reverse the catecholamine effect. In addition these agents may affect lipoprotein lipase, lecithin cholesteryl acyltransferase and cholesterol ester hydrolase. These data may explain, at least in part, the plasma effects. However, long-term studies are needed to clarify the clinical value of antihypertensives with different metabolic profiles.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists

Effects of antihypertensives on plasma lipids and lipoprotein metabolism.

There is good epidemiologic evidence that hypertension is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. However, primary intervention trials have failed to demonstrate that a reduction in blood pressure in hypertensive patients reduces morbidity and mortality from cardiac events. Since various antihypertensive drugs adversely affect lipoprotein metabolism, these drugs may increase associated coronary risk and offset the beneficial effects of lowering blood pressure. This article reviews the effects of various antihypertensive drugs on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins. They can be summarized as follows: thiazide-type diuretics cause a marked elevation of plasma triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and minor increases in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), but have little effects on high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The nonselective beta-blockers do not significantly affect total cholesterol and LDL, but increase total triglycerides and VLDL and decrease HDL. The changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins caused by cardioselective beta-blockers and beta-blockers with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity are qualitatively similar but less pronounced. Calcium antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors appear to have no significant effects on plasma lipids. alpha 1-Inhibitors reduce total triglycerides, total cholesterol, VLDL, and LDL and increase HDL. The possible mechanisms by which antihypertensive drugs affect cellular lipid metabolism (e.g., LDL receptor, lipid synthesis, lipoprotein lipase, lecithin cholesteryl acyltransferase, acylcholesteryl acyltransferase, and cholesteryl ester hydrolase) are described. The clinical significance of changes in blood lipids and cellular lipid metabolism caused by antihypertensive drugs is not yet totally clear. Nevertheless, before antihypertensive drug treatment is initiated, blood lipid levels should be measured to identify preexisting hyperlipidemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antihypertensive Agents

Effects of prostaglandins on LDL receptor activity and cholesterol synthesis in freshly isolated human mononuclear leukocytes.

The effects of prostaglandin (PG) E1, PGE2, the stable prostacyclin analogue Iloprost, and PGF2 alpha on low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity and cholesterol synthesis were investigated in freshly isolated human mononuclear leukocytes. Incubation of cells for up to 45 hr in a lipid-free medium resulted in an increase in the rate of cholesterol synthesis from [14C]acetate and the high affinity accumulation and degradation of 125I-labeled LDL. Addition of PGE1 in increasing concentrations to the incubation medium inhibited cholesterol synthesis and the specific accumulation and degradation of 125I-labeled LDL; at a concentration of 10 microM, the inhibitions were 61%, 70%, and 67%, respectively, after an incubation of 20 hr. The effects of PGE2 and Iloprost were similar. The action of the prostaglandins on LDL receptor activity appeared to be mediated by a decrease in the number of LDL receptors and not by a change in the binding affinity. The prostaglandins yielded sigmoidal log concentration-effect curves. In contrast, PGF2 alpha had no influence on cholesterol synthesis or LDL receptor activity up to a concentration of 10 microM. PGE1, PGE2, and Iloprost, but not PGF2 alpha, led to an increase in the concentration of intracellular cyclic AMP. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP mimicked the effects of the E-prostaglandins and Iloprost on the LDL receptor activity. The results suggest that PGE1, PGE2, and prostacyclin affect LDL receptor activity and cholesterol synthesis and, therefore, may play a role in the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis and in the development of atherosclerosis.

Acetates

Effects of calcium antagonists and adrenergic antihypertensive drugs on plasma lipids and cellular cholesterol metabolism.

Calcium antagonists and antihypertensive alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic drugs may cause changes in plasma lipoprotein levels. Different mechanisms by which these antihypertensive agents effect cellular lipid metabolism have been proposed. The activity of lipoprotein lipase that determines the catabolism of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) is decreased by the beta-blocker propranolol and increased by alpha 1-antagonists. The plasma cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL) level is inversely associated with the number of LDL receptors. Catecholamines suppress the LDL receptor activity, thus leading to an increase in plasma cholesterol concentration. The calcium antagonist verapamil and the beta-blocker propranolol may increase LDL receptor activity either per se or by its antagonizing effect on the catecholamine action. The metabolism of high density lipoproteins (HDL) may be affected directly by catecholamines, which might increase HDL binding activity, thereby enhancing efflux of cholesterol from cells. Catecholamines inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis in extrahepatic cells. The effects are mediated by alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors. Accordingly, the alpha 2-agonists clonidine and alpha-methyldopa mimicked and propranolol opposed the catecholamine action. In contrast, the alpha 1 antagonists indoramin, prazosin, and urapidil had no effect on cholesterol synthesis. The results provide evidence that calcium antagonists and various antihypertensive drugs, depending upon their action on beta- or alpha-adrenergic receptors, affect lipid metabolism differently. The metabolic effect may play a role in atherogenesis and may be of clinical importance when antihypertensive treatment is considered.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists