Major plasma lipids and fatty acids in four HDL mammals

Sphingomyelin in high-density lipoproteins: structural role and biological function

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are an inverse risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and sphingomyelin (SM) is the second most abundant phospholipid component and the major sphingolipid in HDL. Considering the marked presence of SM, the present review has focused on the current knowledge about this phospholipid by addressing its variable distribution among HDL lipoparticles, how they acquire this phospholipid, and the important role that SM plays in regulating their fluidity and cholesterol efflux from different cells. In addition, plasma enzymes involved in HDL metabolism such as lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase or phospholipid transfer protein are inhibited by HDL SM content. Likewise, HDL SM levels are influenced by dietary maneuvers (source of protein or fat), drugs (statins or diuretics) and modified in diseases such as diabetes, renal failure or Niemann-Pick disease. Furthermore, increased levels of HDL SM have been shown to be an inverse risk factor for coronary heart disease. The complexity of SM species, described using new lipidomic methodologies, and their distribution in different HDL particles under many experimental conditions are promising avenues for further research in the future.

Effects of diet and development on the Drosophila lipidome

Cells produce tens of thousands of different lipid species, but the importance of this complexity in vivo is unclear. Analysis of individual tissues and cell types has revealed differences in abundance of individual lipid species, but there has been no comprehensive study comparing tissue lipidomes within a single developing organism. Here, we used quantitative shotgun profiling by high-resolution mass spectrometry to determine the absolute (molar) content of 250 species of 14 major lipid classes in 6 tissues of animals at 27 developmental stages raised on 4 different diets. Comparing these lipidomes revealed unexpected insights into lipid metabolism. Surprisingly, the fatty acids present in dietary lipids directly influence tissue phospholipid composition throughout the animal. Furthermore, Drosophila differentially regulates uptake, mobilization and tissue accumulation of specific sterols, and undergoes unsuspected shifts in fat metabolism during larval and pupal development. Finally, we observed striking differences between tissue lipidomes that are conserved between phyla. This study provides a comprehensive, quantitative and expandable resource for further pharmacological and genetic studies of metabolic disorders and molecular mechanisms underlying dietary response.

Liver phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) expression with a PLTP-null background promotes very low-density lipoprotein production in mice

It is known that plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity influences lipoprotein metabolism. The liver is one of the major sites of lipoprotein production and degradation, as well as of PLTP expression. To address the impact of liver-expressed PLTP on lipoprotein metabolism, we created a mouse model that expresses PLTP in the liver acutely and specifically, with a PLTP-null background. This approach in mouse model preparations can also be used universally for evaluating the function of many other genes in the liver. We found that liver PLTP expression dramatically increases plasma levels of non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (2.7-fold, P < 0.0001), non-HDL phospholipid (2.5-fold, P < 0.001), and triglyceride (51%, P < 0.01), but has no significant influence on plasma HDL lipids compared with controls. Plasma apolipoprotein (apo)B levels were also significantly increased in PLTP-expressing mice (2.2-fold, P < 0.001), but those of apoA-I were not. To explore the mechanism involved, we examined the lipidation and secretion of nascent very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), finding that liver PLTP expression significantly increases VLDL lipidation in hepatocyte microsomal lumina, and also VLDL secretion into the plasma.

CONCLUSION

It is possible to prepare a mouse model that expresses the gene of interest only in the liver, but not in other tissues. Our results suggest, for the first time, that the major function of liver PLTP is to drive VLDL production and makes a small contribution to plasma PLTP activity.

Antimicrobial drug resistance

This chapter provides an overview of our current understanding of the mechanisms associated with the development of antimicrobial drug resistance, international differences in definitions of resistance, ongoing efforts to track shifts in drug susceptibility, and factors that can influence the selection of therapeutic intervention. The latter presents a matrix of complex variables that includes the mechanism of drug action, the pharmacokinetics (PK) of the antimicrobial agent in the targeted patient population, the pharmacodynamics (PD) of the bacterial response to the antimicrobial agent, the PK/PD relationship that will influence dose selection, and the integrity of the host immune system. Finally, the differences between bacterial tolerance and bacterial resistance are considered, and the potential for non-traditional anti-infective therapies is discussed.

Protecting effect of vitamin E supplementation on submaximal exercise-induced oxidative stress in sedentary dogs as assessed by erythrocyte membrane fluidity and paraoxonase-1 activity

The aim of this placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effects of oral vitamin E supplementation for 10 weeks on exercise-induced oxidative damage in untrained dogs. Eight dogs were randomly assigned to a supplementation (n=4) or control (n=4) group and underwent two isolated submaximal exercise sessions, 10 weeks apart. Blood was collected during each session to measure erythrocyte membrane fluidity (EMF), paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin E concentrations. These biomarkers were measured in venous blood samples collected before (t(0)), just after (t, EMF only) and 1d (t+1d) and 7d (t+7d) after the dogs ran on a treadmill. Prior to vitamin E supplementation, exercise induced a significant decrease in PON1 activity, EMF, vitamin E concentration and a significant increase in MDA concentration at t+1d. After a 10 week vitamin E supplementation period, these exercise-induced changes in PON1 activity, EMF and MDA concentration were still significant in the control group, but not in the supplemented group. These results suggested that vitamin E supplementation had a protective effect on submaximal exercise-induced oxidative damage in sedentary dogs.

Therapeutic use of the high-density lipoprotein protein and peptides

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) therapy is a novel and emerging area of therapeutic development in the cardiovascular field. It attempts to supplement and improve the vascular benefit exerted by other agents that are active on lipid metabolism, for example, hypolipidaemic drugs. Furthermore, it takes advantage of the novel techniques of coronary evaluation. A number of reports have examined the potential therapeutic properties of the synthetic HDLs prepared by complexing recombinant apolipoprotein (apo) A-I(Milano), a variant form of native apoA-I, with phospholipids. The availability of synthetic HDL complexes containing recombinant apoA-I(Milano) has opened up a new era of therapeutic management for coronary disease. HDL formulations of recombinant apoA-I(Milano)-phospholipid complexes have clearly shown rapid regression of a focal carotid atheroma as well as powerful protection from myocardial infarction in a rabbit model. In a pilot study, ETC-216 showed a significant reduction in coronary plaque burden after five weekly treatments, assessed by intravascular ultrasound in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Other therapeutic options of HDL therapy have recently became available.

Application of potential probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 strain in healthy dogs

Probiotic utilization is becoming increasingly popular in veterinary medicine. However, only few probiotic products are available commercially for use in dogs in our market. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the properties of new potential probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 strain-own canine isolate and to investigate its effect on several microbiological and biochemical parameters in healthy dogs. The strain expressed in vitro survival by pH 3.0 after 3h (86.8%) and in the presence of 1% bile (75.4%). The AD1 strain adhered to the canine and human intestinal mucus. It was sensitive to commonly used antimicrobials. Fifteen healthy dogs were supplemented with 10(9)L. fermentum AD1 for 7 days. At the end of AD1 strain application, numbers of faecal lactobacilli and enterococci increased significantly in the canine faeces. Significant increase of total protein and total lipid and significant reduction of glucose in serum of dogs were noted. These data indicate that L. fermentum AD1 survive transit through the canine gastrointestinal tract, and populate the colon and probably increased absorption of some nutrients. Whether longer time of its application lead to the same results as well as its potential to improve immune function in dogs remains to be determined.

Macrocyclic lactones: distribution in plasma lipoproteins of several animal species including humans

We studied the in vitro distribution of macrocyclic lactones (MLs), lipophilic anthelmintic drugs, in the plasma of several animal species including humans. First, in vitro spiking of goat plasma was performed with ivermectin, moxidectin, abamectin, doramectin, or eprinomectin. In parallel, goats were treated with subcutaneous injection of ivermectin. Then, cow, sheep, rabbit, pig, and human plasma were spiked with moxidectin. Four fractions were separated using KBr density gradient ultracentrifugation: very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and lipoprotein-deficient fraction. Cholesterol was analyzed by enzymatic assay and MLs by high-performance liquid chromatography. An average of 96% of MLs was associated with lipoproteins. The five MLs studied distributed similarly into goat plasma fractions with a preferential association with HDL (80-90%). Ivermectin partitioning in goat plasma was similar after in vitro spiking and in vivo treatment. In species displaying various lipoprotein profiles, moxidectin was also mainly associated with HDL. However, in human plasma, moxidectin was associated with a lesser extent to HDL (70%) and more to LDL (22%) when compared to other animal species. A relation between the plasma cholesterol content and pharmacokinetics of the drug is suggested. Our finding will allow further exploration of intestinal lymphatic absorption and milk elimination of these compounds-mechanisms in which lipoproteins are involved. In addition, possible improvements of new drug delivery systems are suggested.