Plasma kinetics of a cholesterol-rich microemulsion in subjects with heterozygous beta-thalassemia

The LDL-Receptor and its Molecular Properties: From Theory to Novel Biochemical and Pharmacological Approaches in Reducing LDL-cholesterol

BACKGROUND

The Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Receptor (LDL-R) is a transmembrane protein playing a crucial role in effective lipid homeostasis. Various therapeutic agents have been used in the management of dyslipidemias, however, the outcome of therapeutic target is debated.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to summarize and fully understand the current concept regarding LDL-R and its molecular properties, metabolic pathway, factors affecting LDL-R activity and all available pharmacological interventions. Additionally, non-lipid related properties of LDL-R are also referred.

METHODS

Literature from the PubMed database was extracted to identify papers between 1984 to 2017 regarding LDL-R and therapeutic agents on dyslipidemia management.

RESULTS

We analyzed basic data regarding agents associated with LDL-R (Sterol Regulating Element-Binding Proteins - SREBPs, Protein ARH, IDOL, Thyroid Hormones, Haematologic Disorders, Protein convertase subtilisin kexintype 9 - PCSK-9, ApoC-III) as well as non-lipid related properties of LDL-R, while all relevant (common and novel) pharmacological interventions (statins, fibrates, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, bile acid sequestrants and PCSK- 9) are also referred.

CONCLUSION

LDL-R and its molecular properties are involved in lipid homeostasis, so potentially sets the therapeutic goals in cardiovascular patients, which is usually debated. Further research is needed in order to fully understand its properties, as well as to find the potential pharmacological interventions that could be beneficial in cholesterol homeostasis and various morbidities in order to reach the most appropriate therapeutic goal.

Lipid core nanoparticles resembling low-density lipoprotein and regression of atherosclerotic lesions: effects of particle size

Particles are usually polydispersed and size is an important feature for lipid-based drug delivery systems in order to optimize cell-particle interactions as to pharmacologic action and toxicity. Lipid nanoparticles (LDE) with composition similar to that of low-density lipoprotein carrying paclitaxel were shown to markedly reduce atherosclerosis lesions induced in rabbits by cholesterol feeding. The aim of this study was to test whether two LDE fractions, one with small (20-60 nm) and the other with large (60-100 nm) particles, had different actions on the atherosclerotic lesions. The two LDE-paclitaxel fractions, prepared by microfluidization, were separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation and injected (4 mg/body weight, intravenously once a week) into two groups of rabbits previously fed cholesterol for 4 weeks. A group of cholesterol-fed animals injected with saline solution was used as control to assess lesion reduction with treatment. After the treatment period, the animals were euthanized for analysis. After treatment, both the small and large nanoparticle preparations of LDE-paclitaxel had equally strong anti-atherosclerosis action. Both reduced lesion extension in the aorta by roughly 50%, decreased the intima width by 75% and the macrophage presence in the intima by 50%. The two preparations also showed similar toxicity profile. In conclusion, within the 20-100 nm range, size is apparently not an important feature regarding the LDE nanoparticle system and perhaps other solid lipid-based systems.

Evaluation of atherosclerotic lesions in cholesterol-fed mice during treatment with paclitaxel in lipid nanoparticles: a magnetic resonance imaging study

Cholesterol-core nanoparticles (LDE) have been shown to be recognized by low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR) after administration; therefore, LDE is an ideal vehicle to deliver drug with targeting property. Paclitaxel, when incorporated into LDE, promotes atherosclerosis regression with reduced drug toxicity in rabbits through LDLR. Here, we tested whether LDE-paclitaxel could still be effective in reducing diet-induced atherosclerosis in a mouse model without LDLR. Nineteen LDLR knockout male mice were fed 1% cholesterol for 12 weeks. Then, 12 animals received 4-weekly intraperitoneal LDE-paclitaxel (4 mg/kg) while 7 controls received saline solution. On week 12 and 16, in vivo MRI of the aortic roots was performed. Aorta macroscopy was made after euthanasia. Reduction of atherosclerotic lesions was observed. LDE-paclitaxel treatment resulted in reduction of wall area (14%) and stenosis (22%) by MRI and 33% by macroscopy. Thus, LDE-paclitaxel may produce pharmacological effects through LDE uptake by mechanisms other than LDLR.

A complex phenotype in a child with familial HDL deficiency due to a novel frameshift mutation in APOA1 gene (apoA-IGuastalla)

BACKGROUND

We describe a kindred with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) deficiency due to APOA1 gene mutation in which comorbidities affected the phenotypic expression of the disorder.

METHODS

An overweight boy with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) and HDL deficiency (HDL cholesterol 0.39 mmol/L, apoA-I 40 mg/dL) was investigated. We sequenced the candidate genes for HTG (LPL, APOC2, APOA5, GPIHBP1, LMF1) and HDL deficiency (LCAT, ABCA1 and APOA1), analyzed HDL subpopulations, measured cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) of sera and constructed a model of the mutant apoA-I.

RESULTS

No mutations in HTG-related genes, ABCA1 and LCAT were found. APOA1 sequence showed that the proband, his mother and maternal grandfather were heterozygous of a novel frameshift mutation (c.546_547delGC), which generated a truncated protein (p.[L159Afs*20]) containing 177 amino acids with an abnormal C-terminal tail of 19 amino acids. Trace amounts of this protein were detectable in plasma. Mutation carriers had reduced levels of LpA-I, preβ-HDL and large HDL and no detectable HDL-2 in their plasma; their sera had a reduced CEC specifically the ABCA1-mediated CEC. Metabolic syndrome in the proband explains the extremely low HDL cholesterol level (0.31 mmol/L), which was half of that found in the other carriers. The proband's mother and grandfather, both presenting low plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were carriers of the β-thalassemic trait, a condition known to be associated with a reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a reduced prevalence of cardiovascular disease. This trait might have delayed the development of atherosclerosis related to HDL deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

In these heterozygotes for apoA-I truncation, the metabolic syndrome has deleterious effect on HDL system, whereas β-thalassemia trait may delay the onset of cardiovascular disease.

Hypocholesterolemia in chronic anemias with increased erythropoietic activity

Hypocholesterolemia of unknown etiology has been previously described in various chronic anemias. Few small studies also suggested that those patients have a lower incidence of atherosclerotic events. The aim of our study was to determine the extent of hypocholesterolemia in various types of anemias. We studied 59 patients with chronic anemias associated with high-erythropoietic activity (thalassemia intermedia, congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I, congenital spherocytosis), 8 patients with low-erythropoietic activity anemias (acquired aplastic anemia, Fanconi anemia, and Diamond Blackfan anemia), and 20 healthy controls. Mean serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (STR), and serum erythropoietin levels were determined in each patient. All patients with chronic anemia and increased erythropoietic activity had hypocholesterolemia, whereas none of those with low erythropoietic activity was hypocholesterolemic. Mean serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels were found to be significantly lower in the high-erythropoietic activity group (80+/-19 mg/dl; 31+/-10 mg/dl; 35+/-14 mg/dl, respectively) compared with the control group (P<0.001; 0.001; 0.001, respectively) and the low-erythropoietic activity group (P<0.001; 0.001; 0.01, respectively). Significant inverse correlation (R2=0.507) was observed between serum cholesterol and STR levels, which in the absence of iron deficiency reflect bone marrow activity. Taken together, our results imply that hypocholesterolemia accompanies anemias with high-erythropoietic activity. We suggest that the high-erythropoitic activity-associated hypocholesterolemia is due to increased cholesterol requirements by the proliferating erythoid cells. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism and the possible clinical consequences of this phenomenon.