Rapid enhancement of acyl-CoA synthetase, LPL, and GLUT-4 mRNAs in adipose tissue of VMH rats

Obesity is frequently accompanied by metabolic and cardiovascular complications. The accumulation of intra-abdominal visceral fat has been shown to be more closely related to various complications of obesity than that of subcutaneous fat. To elucidate the metabolic characteristics of visceral fat during fat accumulation, we examined the changes of acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) mRNA abundance and its activity, glucose transporter (GLUT)-4, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor mRNA abundances in mesenteric and subcutaneous fat in early stages of ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)-lesioned rats. ACS activity increased 4.9-fold in the mesenteric fat on the 1st day, remaining unchanged in the subcutaneous fat. ACS, GLUT-4, and LPL mRNA levels were all increased in both fat tissues of VMH rats. The relative increase of mRNAs in VMH day 1 was greater in the mesenteric fat, suggesting that mesenteric fat shows rapid response during fat accumulation. VLDL receptor mRNA levels showed no significant change in either fat tissue. We conclude that ACS, GLUT-4, and LPL may contribute to fat accumulation at the gene expression level from a very early stage during the development of obesity.

Therapeutic effect of secretin in patients with jaundice; double-blind placebo-controlled multicentric trial

Secretin, a gastrointestinal hormone, has been shown to have a potent choleretic effect. Having already obtained some beneficial effects with secretin in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis, we sought to confirm its effects in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in patients with mild jaundice after acute or during chronic hepatitis, where total bilirubin level was in excess of 4.0 mg/dl for 3 days or more. Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and familiar hyperbilirubinemia were excluded from the study. Ninety-three patients were included in this analysis, but the final evaluation covered 69 of them. No statistically significant differences were found in the reduction of serum bilirubin levels between secretin and placebo groups. As a number of patients with liver cirrhosis had been included, the subjects were subdivided into one group with cholestasis in hepatitis and one with liver cirrhosis. In the subgroup of cirrhotic patients who received secretin, serum levels of AST were significantly increased compared with the placebo group. However, since the choleretic effect of secretin is unique, further studies seem to be warranted.

[Viral tumor markers]

Viruses can contribute to the development of human tumors by different mechanisms: directly by altering host cellular gene expression by viral products or by viral DNA integration; indirectly by modifying the host cell genome co-operated with other factors. Human cancer associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I), papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections are responsible for liver cancer (HBV and HCV), adult T cell leukemia (HTLV-I), cervical cancer (HPV) and malignant lymphoma (EBV) respectively. Based on the clinical and experimental knowledge, viral tumor markers are thought of not as diagnostic markers, but as most important risk factors for various tumorigenesis.

Low incidence of the stimulatory G protein alpha-subunit mutations in autonomously functioning thyroid adenomas in Japan

Point mutations of the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gs alpha) (termed gsp) and the TSH receptor, leading to constitutive elevation of intracellular cAMP contents, have recently been described in autonomously functioning thyroid adenomas. Since we have recently found a clear difference in the incidence of such gain-of-function mutations of the TSH receptor between Japan and Europe, the present study was designed to evaluate the incidence of gsp mutations in a series of autonomously functioning thyroid adenomas in a Japanese population. Thirty-eight autonomously functioning thyroid adenomas were employed in the present study. Genomic DNA was extracted from archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. Exons 8 and 9 of the Gs alpha gene were examined for activating mutations at codons 201 and 227 by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and nucleotide sequencing. Both exons 8 and 9 were successfully amplified in 28 of 38 samples by polymerase chain reaction. Of these only one sample for exon 9 displayed a distinct migration pattern in SSCP analysis, in which a point mutation of a G to C transversion was identified by nucleotide sequencing, resulting in substitution of His (CAC) for Gln (CAG) at codon 227. The wild-type sequence of exon 9 in 10 randomly selected samples with an identical migration pattern in SSCP analysis suggests that underestimation of the incidence of gsp mutations is unlikely in our work. In conclusion, the present data, together with our previous data on the TSH receptor, suggest that oncogenic mutations of the Gs alpha as well as the TSH receptor do not seem to play a major role in tumorigenesis of autonomously functioning thyroid adenomas in Japan.

A novel point mutation in congenital erythropoietic porphyria in two members of Japanese family

The molecular basis of the uroporphyrinogen III synthase (UROIIIS) deficiency was investigated in two members of a Japanese family. This defect in heme biosynthesis is responsible for a rare autosomal recessive disease: congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) or Gnther's disease. The first patient was homoallelic for a novel missense mutation: a T to C transition of nucleotide 634 that predicted a serine to proline substitution at residue 212 (S212P). The second patient appeared heteroallelic, carrying the same missense mutation and a nonsense mutation: a C to T change at nucleotide 745, resulting in a premature stop at codon 249, instead of a glutamine (Q249X). The corresponding mutated proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and no residual activity was observed. A family study was also performed to determine the carrier status.

Involvement of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 in homologous desensitization of the thyrotropin receptor

Homologous desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors involves agonist-dependent phosphorylation of receptors by G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). To identify GRK(s) that play a role in homologous desensitization of the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor, thyroid cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using degenerate oligonucleotide primers from highly conserved regions in GRK family. GRK5 is found in the predominant isoform expressed in the thyroid. Rat GRK5 cDNA was then isolated, which encodes a 590-amino acid protein with 95% homology to human and bovine homologs. Northern blot identified GRK5 mRNA of approximately 3, 8, and 10 kilobases with highest expression levels in lung > heart, kidney, colon > thyroid. In functional studies using a normal rat thyroid FRTL5 cells, overexpression of GRK5 by transfecting the plasmid capable of expressing the sense GRK5 RNA suppressed basal cAMP levels and augmented the extent of TSH receptor desensitization, whereas suppression of endogenous GRK5 expression by transfecting the antisense GRK5 construct increased basal cAMP levels and attenuated the extent of receptor desensitization. Although exogenously overexpressed GRK6 also enhanced TSH receptor desensitization, we conclude that GRK5, the predominant GRK isoform in the thyroid, appears to be mainly involved in homologous desensitization of the TSH receptor.

Immunocytochemical localization of the Pit-1 protein in the pituitary of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Pit-1 is a pituitary-specific transcription factor responsible for activating the growth hormone (GH) gene family. The localization of Pit-1 protein in the pituitary of rainbow trout was studied by immunocytochemical analysis. Fish Pit-1 was found to be extensively localized in the nuclei of cells in the proximal pars distalis (PPD), rostral pars distalis (RPD), and pars intermedia (PI). Sagittal sections were immunocytochemically double stained with antibodies against Pit-1, GH, prolactin (PRL), and somatolactin (SL). The results showed that Pit-1 protein was present in the GH-containing cells of the PPD, the PRL-containing cells of the RPD, and the SL-containing cells of the PI.

Evidence that implicates the parathyroid hormone-related peptide in vascular stenosis. Increased gene expression in the intima of injured carotid arteries and human restenotic coronary lesions

Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is considered to be one key event underlying the pathophysiology of restenosis after angioplasty. The parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and its receptor, a local autocrine and paracrine regulator of cellular growth in a variety of normal cell types, have been reported in the vicinity of VSMCs. To investigate how PTHrP might be involved in the process of neointimal formation after balloon angioplasty, we examined PTHrP expression in balloon-denuded rat carotid arteries and human coronary arteries that had been retrieved by directional atherectomy. In rat carotid arteries, the RNase protection assay and in situ hybridization demonstrated that PTHrP mRNA expression increased fourfold to sixfold 1 to 7 days after denudation and continued for 28 days, coincident with downregulation of PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA expression. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed that PTHrP expression in balloon-denuded carotid arteries was mainly localized to the neointima. To confirm the involvement of the PTHrP in human coronary artery restenotic lesions, immunohistochemical analysis of human coronary atherectomy specimens (23 primary and 10 restenotic lesions) was then performed. The number of intimal cells that expressed PTHrP protein was significantly higher in restenotic (407 +/- 53 cells/mm2; range, 143 to 739) than in stable angina (50 +/- 12 cells/mm2; range, 18 to 132; P<.05) or unstable angina (129 +/- 16 cells/mm2; range, 21 to 232; P<.05) specimens. These data demonstrate that PTHrP gene expression in VSMCs markedly increases during neointimal formation, supporting the hypothesis that PTHrP may play an important role in vascular stenosis as a regulator of VSMC proliferation.

TNF-alpha stimulates glucose uptake in L6 myoblasts

The mechanism of TNF-alpha to regulate glucose metabolism remains unclear. To further delineate the TNF-alpha signal transduction pathway mediating glucose metabolism, we utilized L6 rat myoblasts which contain the receptors for the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and TNF-alpha, and the ability of both ligands to stimulate glucose uptake was compared. IGF-I (6.5 nM) maximally stimulated glucose uptake 7-fold after 24 h incubation, while 23 nM TNF-alpha maximally stimulated glucose uptake 3-fold only after 48 h incubation. IGF-I receptor beta-subunit, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase were all phosphorylated in response to 6.5 nM IGF-I after 10 min incubation. In contrast, the treatment with 23 nM TNF-alpha failed to phosphorylate either IGF-I receptor beta-subunit or IRS-1 but did phosphorylate MAP kinase as much as IGF-I did. Despite a similar extent to which TNF-alpha induced MAP kinase phosphorylation as IGF-I did, TNF-alpha stimulated glucose uptake less compared to IGF-I. The results indicate that MAP kinase phosphorylation is not sufficient for glucose uptake in L6 myoblasts. TNF-alpha-elicited signal transduction to glucose uptake may utilize a different pathway from that seen with IGF-I.

Purification, cDNA cloning, and regulation of lysophospholipase from rat liver

A lysophospholipase was purified 506-fold from rat liver supernatant. The preparation gave a single 24-kDa protein band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme hydrolyzed lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylserine, and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine at pH 6-8. The purified enzyme was used for the preparation of antibody and peptide sequencing. A cDNA clone was isolated by screening a rat liver lambda gt11 cDNA library with the antibody, followed by the selection of further extended clones from a lambda gt10 library. The isolated cDNA was 2,362 base pairs in length and contained an open reading frame encoding 230 amino acids with a Mr of 24,708. The peptide sequences determined were found in the reading frame. When the cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli cells as the beta-galactosidase fusion, lysophosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing activity was markedly increased. The deduced amino acid sequence showed significant similarity to Pseudomonas fluorescence esterase A and Spirulina platensis esterase. The three sequences contained the GXSXG consensus at similar positions. The transcript was found in various tissues with the following order of abundance: spleen, heart, kidney, brain, lung, stomach, and testis = liver. In contrast, the enzyme protein was abundant in the following order: testis, liver, kidney, heart, stomach, lung, brain, and spleen. Thus the mRNA abundance disagreed with the level of the enzyme protein in liver, testis, and spleen. When HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate into granulocytes with dimethyl sulfoxide, the 24-kDa lysophospholipase protein increased significantly, but the mRNA abundance remained essentially unchanged. Thus a posttranscriptional control mechanism is present for the regulation of 24-kDa lysophospholipase.

Thymic carcinoma which developed in a thymic cyst

Thymic carcinoma was found in a thymic cyst in a 60-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital due to cough and pain in her right chest. Chest X-ray showed a huge shadow in the right mediastinum. Chest CT scan showed a cystic tumor with a solid mass. An operation revealed a solid tumor in the thymic cyst. Pathologic diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma, that contained some glandular tissues. The patient has been in a good condition for two years after the operation. Although the concurrent occurrence of thymic carcinoma and thymic cyst is very rare, it should be added to the differential diagnosis when anterior mediastinal cystic tumor is associated with a solid mass lesion.

Hemodynamic effects of intravenous ephedrine in infants and children anesthetized with halothane and nitrous oxide

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of age on the hemodynamic responses to intravenous (IV) ephedrine in pediatric patients anesthetized with halothane, nitrous oxide, and oxygen. One hundred ten pediatric patients, ranging in age from 0.1 to 15 yr, were assigned to receive 0.1 mg/kg (n = 55) or 0.2 mg/kg (n = 55) IV ephedrine. General anesthesia was maintained with 1.0 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) of halothane and 67% nitrous oxide in oxygen after tracheal intubation. Measurements of arterial blood pressure and heart rate were made at 1-min intervals for 10 min after ephedrine 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg was injected IV as a bolus. Significant correlations were noted between age and changes in mean blood pressure (r = 0.37, P < 0.01 for the subjects receiving ephedrine 0.1 mg/kg; r = 0.63, P < 0.001 for the subjects receiving ephedrine 0.2 mg/kg), but not between age and changes in heart rate. The present results indicate that age correlates with the pressor but not the chronotropic effects of ephedrine in pediatric patients anesthetized with 1 MAC halothane and nitrous oxide.

[Evaluation of chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer--pilot study of 5-FU by biochemical modulation]

We undertook a randomized trial in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, comparing 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin versus combination of these agents with additional cisplatin. Between July 1991 and October 1994, 21 patients with advanced measurable colorectal cancer previously unexposed to chemotherapy were randomly assigned to treatment with either 5-FU (500-750 mg/body) and LV (30 mg/body) for 5 days, or the combination of 5-FU and LV in the same daily dose plus cisplatin (10 mg/body). The overall responses were 30% and 36.3% for the 5-FU/LV and the 5-FU/LV/CDDP treatment arms, respectively. The three-drug combination appeared superior to 5-FU/LV for response duration. A comparative analysis of the toxicities experienced by the patients in the two treatment groups showed a comparable rate, although moderate leukocytopenia was prolonged in one patient treated with 5-FU/LV for 5 days. We conclude that the 5-FU/LV/CDDP treatment arm is an effective therapy for advanced colorectal cancer, but further attempts should be made to increase response rate, prolong response duration and assure effective therapy.

Insulin resistance and body fat distribution

Body fat distribution can be assessed by computed tomography (CT). The ratio of umbilicus was used to classify obese subjects as having visceral fat obesity (VFO) or subcutaneous fat obesity (SFO). Serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and plasma glucose area in an oral glucose tolerance test were higher in patients with VFO than in those with SFO. Significant positive correlations were demonstrated between V/S ratio and plasma glucose area, serum triglyceride level, and total cholesterol level as well as systolic or diastolic blood pressure. VFO was more frequently associated with coronary artery disease. Moreover, VFO was more often accompanied by multiple risk factors than was SFO. Steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) level was significantly higher in patients with VFO than with SFO, suggesting that insulin resistance may be more remarkable in VFO than in SFO. Furthermore, visceral fat accumulation was also associated with these complications even in nonobese subjects. Visceral fat area (VFA) was significantly correlated with fasting plasma glucose, serum triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels. Animal models such as Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) lesions and Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima-Fatty (OLETF) rats were accompanied by visceral fat accumulation and an early stage of aortic atherosclerosis. Aging, sex hormone, genetic, and dietary factors and physical inactivity may induce visceral fat accumulation. Visceral fat is characterized by its high lipogenic activity as well as its accelerated lipolytic activity. High levels of portal free fatty acids (FFAs) may eventually result in an enhancement of hepatic triglyceride synthesis, causing hyperlipidemia. High portal FFA levels would also induce insulin resistance, thereby causing glucose intolerance, hypertension, and finally atherosclerosis. We propose a term, "visceral fat syndrome," as a highly atherogenic state, which includes visceral fat accumulation, glucose intolerance (insulin resistance), hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.

The expression of truncated MK in human tumors

Midkine (MK) is a heparin binding growth/differentiation factor different from fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), and is largely composed of two domains which are found by a folded polypeptide chain interconnected by disulfide bridges. Polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of a short MK mRNA in 7 among 12 human tumor cells which expressed MK mRNA. All of 4 pancreatic carcinoma cell lines expressed the short species in addition to the full size mRNA. The short mRNA lacked an exon and resulted in the lack of a more N-terminally located domain. The truncated form of MK was found also in some surgically removed specimens of human tumors, but not in noncancerous tissue.

Effects of pravastatin on plasma and urinary mevalonate concentrations in subjects with familial hypercholesterolaemia: a comparison of morning and evening administration

In order to determine whether there is a difference in the effect of the hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor pravastatin on cholesterol synthesis between the morning and the evening, we studied the 24-h profile of mevalonate in plasma and urine in 11 subjects with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. In study 1, eight subjects with familial hypercholesterolaemia took pravastatin (20 mg) once in the morning, and another 20-mg dose in the evening after a 1-week wash-out period. In study 2, five subjects with familial hypercholesterolaemia took pravastatin (20 mg per day) in the morning on 3 consecutive days and on 3 days in the evening after a 1 day wash-out. Plasma mevalonate concentrations were reduced at 9 h and 5 h after pravastatin administration in the morning and the evening, respectively. Urinary mevalonate excretion was significantly reduced at 4-8 h after pravastatin administration in the morning (51 vs 19 nmol.h-1) and at 4-16 h after pravastatin administration in the evening (56 vs 27 nmol.h-1). Daily urinary mevalonate excretion was equally and significantly reduced by pravastatin in the morning or evening. In conclusion, we found that morning and evening administration of pravastatin caused equal reductions in plasma and urinary mevalonate concentrations.

A compound heterozygote for familial hypercholesterolaemia with a homozygous mother

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a rare disorder in which the patients develop severe hypercholesterolaemia and premature coronary atherosclerosis from childhood. Here we report a unique family with clustering of homozygous FH. The proband was a 25-year-old man, who showed marked hypercholesterolaemia, multiple xanthomas and severe coronary atherosclerosis. His mother also showed the typical characteristics of homozygous FH. Sequencing analysis of the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene revealed that he was a compound heterozygote, carrying two different point mutations. One was a novel mutation, FH Wakayama (Cys-->Ser at 317), derived from his mother, and the other was a recurrent mutation, FH Niigata (T-->C at 1845 + 2, 5' splice signal in intron 12), derived from his father. The proband we report seems to be a very rare case of an FH homozygote born from a homozygous mother.

Cytoplasmic calcium levels and membrane fluidity of platelets in contact with polyether-polyamide multiblock-copolymer surfaces

Cytoplasmic calcium levels and the membrane fluidity of rabbit platelets stored in mini blood bags of crystalline-amorphous microstructured polymers (polyether-polyamide multiblock-copolymers) were studied. Fluorescent dye (Fura 2 or 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene)-loaded platelet suspensions were stored at 37 degrees C for 1 h in the blood bags, and metabolic changes in the platelets during storage were evaluated by the fluorescent spectroscopic technique. The surfaces of poly(vinyl chloride) and polyolefin elastomers, which are used for commercially available blood bags, enhanced the progress of platelet metabolism; i.e., there was a dramatic decrease in membrane fluidity and an increase in [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, the decrease in membrane fluidity was observed prior to the increase in [Ca2+]i. These results suggest that the decrease in membrane fluidity of platelets in contact with polymer surfaces can be the dominant stage in the activation of these platelets. In contrast, the surfaces of polyether-polyamide multiblock-copolymers exhibited few changes in either membrane fluidity or [Ca2+]i levels. These results suggest that the platelets in contact with the crystalline-amorphous microstructured copolymer surfaces can be inert and inactivated in terms of the prevention of a decrease in membrane fluidity.

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies on the ligand-induced conformational change in an active lysozyme derivative, Kyn62-lysozyme

The ligand-induced conformational change of an active lysozyme derivative, Kyn62-lysozyme, in which Trp62 of hen egg-white lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) was selectively modified to kynurenine, was investigated by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Kyn62 formed an intramolecular energy transfer donor-acceptor pair with a tryptophan residue as a donor. The energy transfer was related to the conformation of the active site. The spectral overlap integral (J) of the kynurenine-tryptophan pair is large as it was determined to be 4.92 x 10(-15) M-1 cm3. Time-resolved fluorescence properties of Kyn62-lysozyme and its complex with a trimer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine [(GlcNAc)3] show that the energy donor is Trp28 or Trp111 in the hydrophobic matrix box of the free Kyn62-lysozyme. In the complex, it appears that the kynurenine residue drastically changed its orientation or approached closer to Trp108 to accept more efficiently the excitation energy from Trp108 on the binding of Kyn62-lysozyme with (GlcNAc)3.

Histopathological characteristics of childhood thyroid cancer in Gomel, Belarus

We reviewed histopathologically 19 cases of childhood thyroid cancer occurring between 1991 and 1994 among 14,396 screening subjects in Gomel, Republic of Belarus, the region most severely radio-contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986. The patients were 13 girls and 6 boys with a mean age of 10.6 years. The mean age at the time of the accident was 3.2 years. Mean tumor diameter was 16 mm, and all cases were papillary carcinoma with various amounts of solid component. Psammoma bodies and stromal fibrosis were encountered to some extent in almost all cases. The tumors were highly prone to local invasion and regional lymph-node metastasis. No morphological evidence for radiation-induced cancer was obtained in these cases. 137Cs levels were relatively high in the patients' bodies and in the soil at the places of domicile. However, there was no dose-response relationship between cancer prevalence and radioactivity. These facts suggest that the incidence of aggressive pediatric thyroid cancer is extremely high in Gomel, where most of the children were exposed to a low level of radioactivity over a long time after the accident. At present, however, no definite conclusion can be drawn on the relationship between cancer occurrence and radioactive contamination.

Posterior routes of choroidal blood outflow in high myopia

PURPOSE

A few reports in the ophthalmic literature have described choroidal blood outflow through posterior routes. Most of the patients reported were highly myopic; therefore, a correlation between such posterior routes and high myopia has been suspected. The authors examined highly myopic eyes using indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography and investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of posterior routes in them.

METHODS

The authors examined 255 highly myopic eyes (146 patients) using ICG videoangiography. All had refractive errors greater than--8.25 diopters (D). They also examined a control group consisting of 42 eyes (26 patients) that had refractive errors within +/- 3D.

RESULTS

Of 255 highly myopic eyes, 61 (23.9%) had choroidal blood outflow through posterior routes. These routes were classified by type of vein according to its penetration site. One drained into the margin of the optic nerve head, and the other penetrated the sclera near the macula. However, only 1 of the 42 eyes (2.4%) in the control group showed choroidal outflow by a posterior route. The prevalence of posterior routes was significantly higher in the highly myopic eyes than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Posterior routes of choroidal blood outflow were observed in nearly 25% of highly myopic eyes. These vessels appear to be one of the major routes of posterior choroidal outflow in highly myopic eyes.

Ocular complication in congenital erythropoietic porphyria

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP), classically known as "Günther disease', is an extremely rare autosomal recessively inherited disorder characterized by mutilating cutaneous photosensitivity and abnormal porphyrin heam biosynthesis in the bone marrow. So far there is no effective therapy for CEP. Because of severe cutaneous photosensitivity, treatment of CEP has mainly been focused upon the avoidance of sunlight and trauma of the skin to minimize skin symptoms. Recently we have encountered ocular complications, especially scleral involvement, in 5 CEP patients. From this point of view, we should pay attention not only to cutaneous symptoms but also to scleral involvement and ophthalmological examination is required to assess the quality of life of CEP patients.

Molecular disorders of cholesteryl ester transfer protein

Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates the transfer of cholesteryl ester (CE) from HDL to apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and therefore is a key protein in the reverse cholesterol transport system. The importance of plasma CETP in lipoprotein metabolism has been highlighted by the discovery of CETP-deficient subjects with a marked hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia. The deficiency of CETP causes various abnormalities in the concentration, composition, and functions of high density and low density lipoproteins. The current review will focus on some of the recent knowledge on CETP with special reference to the biochemical and molecular biological aspects of CETP. Furthermore, detailed information will be presented regarding the lipoprotein abnormalities and molecular basis of CETP deficiency.