A cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor attenuates atherosclerosis in rabbits

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a plasma protein that mediates the exchange of cholesteryl ester in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) for triglyceride in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). This process decreases the level of anti-atherogenic HDL cholesterol and increases pro-atherogenic VLDL and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, so CETP is potentially atherogenic. On the other hand, CETP could also be anti-atherogenic, because it participates in reverse cholesterol transport (transfer of cholesterol from peripheral cells through the plasma to the liver). Because the role of CETP in atherosclerosis remains unclear, we have attempted to develop a potent and specific CETP inhibitor. Here we describe CETP inhibitors that form a disulphide bond with CETP, and present one such inhibitor (JTT-705) that increases HDL cholesterol, decreases non-HDL cholesterol and inhibits the progression of atherosclerosis in rabbits. Our findings indicate that CETP may be atherogenic in vivo and that JTT-705 may be a potential anti-atherogenic drug.

pH-induced destabilization of phosphatidylethanolamine-containing liposomes: role of bilayer contact

The mechanism of pH-induced destabilization of liposomes composed of phosphatidylethanolamine and a charged cholesteryl ester was studied by following the release of encapsulated aqueous contents. The kinetics of release were measured continuously by using the water-soluble fluorophore 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid in combination with the water-soluble quencher p- xylylenebis (pyridinium) bromide. With this fluorescence assay, release of contents from liposomes composed of phosphatidylethanolamine and cholesteryl hemisuccinate was shown to be a function of pH, ratio of phosphatidylethanolamine to cholesteryl hemisuccinate, and acyl chain composition of the phosphatidylethanolamine. Leakage was very slow at pH 5.5 and increased dramatically with decreasing pH down to 4.0. Replacing phosphatidylethanolamine by phosphatidylcholine eliminated the effect of pH on leakage. Analysis of the kinetics of release by a mass action model demonstrated that bilayer destabilization and leakage occur subsequent to aggregation. The requirement of bilayer contact for destabilization has been found previously for acidic phospholipid bilayers in the presence of divalent cation and for saturated phosphatidylcholine bilayers below the isothermal phase transition temperature. The phosphatidylethanolamine-containing bilayers examined here satisfy the same requirement.

Studies on the substrate specificity of a carboxyl ester hydrolase from human pancreatic juice. II. Action on cholesterol esters and lipid-soluble vitamin esters

Evidence is presented that human carboxyl ester hydrolase (carboxylic-ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.1) is able to hydrolyze cholesterol esters and lipid-soluble vitamins A, D-3 and E esters. Those activities require the presence of bile salts and the 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxylated bile salts have been found the most efficient activators. The results presented in this paper and in the preceding one suggest the existence of two sites of bile salts recognition. One site, specific of the 3 alpha, 7 alpha-hydroxyl group of cholanic acid would induce dimerization and activation of the enzyme. The other site, unspecific towards bile salts hydroxylation would be located at the active center and would be implicated in substrate recognition.

Preparation of liposomes from stratum corneum lipids

Mammalian stratum corneum contains multiple intercellular lipid bilayers that constitute the epidermal water barrier. Unlike all other biologic membranes, the epidermal lamellae do not contain phospholipids, as a result of which the ability of the stratum corneum lipid mixture to form bilayers has been questioned. In the present study, a lipid mixture containing only epidermal ceramides (40%), cholesterol (25%), palmitic acid (25%), and cholesteryl sulfate (10%), approximating the composition of stratum corneum lipids, formed stable, unilamellar liposomes when sonicated at 80 degrees C in buffer containing 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM Tris, and 1 mM EDTA at pH 7.5. The size and form of the liposomes were studied by both freeze fracture and negative staining electron microscopy. Lipid mixtures from which either the palmitic acid or the cholesteryl sulfate were omitted were still capable of forming similar liposomes, but a mixture of ceramides and cholesterol, or ceramides alone, were incapable of forming liposomes. The results indicate that lipid mixtures similar to those found in stratum corneum are capable of forming bilayers at physiologic pH.

Involvement of Akt in ER-to-Golgi transport of SCAP/SREBP: a link between a key cell proliferative pathway and membrane synthesis

Akt is a critical regulator of cell growth, proliferation, and survival that is activated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). We investigated the effect of PI3K inhibition on activation of sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), a master regulator of cholesterol homeostasis. SREBP-2 processing increased in response to various cholesterol depletion approaches (including statin treatment) and this increase was blunted by treatment with a potent and specific inhibitor of PI3K, LY294002, or when a plasmid encoding a dominant-negative form of Akt (DN-Akt) was expressed. LY294002 also suppressed SREBP-2 processing induced by insulin-like growth factor-1. Furthermore, LY294002 treatment down-regulated SREBP-2 or -1c gene targets and decreased cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis. Fluorescence microscopy studies indicated that LY294002 disrupts transport of the SREBP escort protein, SCAP, from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. This disruption was also shown by immunofluorescence staining when DN-Akt was expressed. Taken together, our studies indicate that the PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in SREBP-2 transport to the Golgi, contributing to the control of SREBP-2 activation. Our results provide a crucial mechanistic link between the SREBP and PI3K/Akt pathways that may be reconciled teleologically because synthesis of new membrane is an absolute requirement for cell growth and proliferation.

Metabolism of protein-free lipid emulsion models of chylomicrons in rats

Emulsions were prepared by ultrasonication of mixtures of triolein, cholesteryl oleate, phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol in aqueous dispersions, then purified by ultracentrifugation. After injection into rats, the metabolism of the artificial, protein-free emulsions was comparable to the metabolism of chylomicrons collected from rat intestinal lymph during the absorption of fat. Like chylomicrons, the emulsion triacylglycerol was removed from the plasma more quickly than emulsion cholesteryl ester. Also like chylomicrons, much more emulsion cholesteryl ester than triacylglycerol appeared in the liver 10 min after injection, and only trace amounts appeared in the spleen. Because the artificial emulsions gained apolipoproteins when incubated with plasma, their metabolism was probably facilitated by the recipient rat plasma apolipoproteins and so, in rats made apolipoprotein-deficient by treatment with estrogen, the removal of emulsions from the plasma was slowed. Removal was also slowed in hyperlipidemic rats fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet to expand the plasma pools of the triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins and remnants. The results indicate that the metabolism of lymph chylomicrons can be modeled by artificial, protein-free lipid emulsions not only in the initial partial hydrolysis by lipoprotein lipase, but also in the delivery of a remnant-like particle to the liver.

Tunable pH-sensitive liposomes composed of mixtures of cationic and anionic lipids

The pH-dependent fusion properties of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of binary mixtures of anionic and cationic lipids have been investigated. It is shown that stable LUVs can be prepared from the ionizable anionic lipid cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS) and the permanently charged cationic lipid N,N-dioleoyl-N, N-dimethylammonium chloride (DODAC) at neutral pH values and that these LUVs undergo fusion as the pH is reduced. The critical pH at which fusion was observed (pH(f)) was dependent on the cationic lipid-to-anionic lipid ratio. LUVs prepared from DODAC/CHEMS mixtures at molar ratios of 0 to 0.85 resulted in vesicles with pH(f) values that ranged from pH 4.0 to 6.7, respectively. This behavior is consistent with a model in which fusion occurs at pH values such that the DODAC/CHEMS LUV surface charge is zero. Related behavior was observed for LUVs composed of the ionizable cationic lipid 3alpha-[N-(N',N'-dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol hydrochloride (DC-Chol) and the acidic lipid dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA). Freeze-fracture and (31)P NMR evidence is presented which indicates that pH-dependent fusion results from a preference of mixtures of cationic and anionic lipid for "inverted" nonbilayer lipid phases under conditions where the surface charge is zero. It is concluded that tunable pH-sensitive LUVs composed of cationic and anionic lipids may be of utility for drug delivery applications. It is also suggested that the ability of cationic lipids to adopt inverted nonbilayer structures in combination with anionic lipids may be related to the ability of cationic lipids to facilitate the intracellular delivery of macromolecules.

Organization of the human cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene

The plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) catalyzes the transfer of phospholipids and neutral lipids between the lipoproteins. Thus, this protein may be important in modulating lipoprotein levels in the plasma. We have determined the primary structure and organization of the human CETP gene. Southern blotting of cellular DNA indicated a single copy of the CETP gene exists per haploid genome. Analysis of three overlapping genomic clones showed that the gene spans approximately 25 kbp and contains 16 exons (size range 32-250 bp). Overall, the sequence and organization of the CETP gene do not resemble those of other lipid-metabolizing enzymes or apolipoproteins. However, comparison of the CETP sequence, one exon at a time, with the sequences in the sequence databases revealed a striking identity of a pentapeptide sequence (ValLeuThrLeuAla) within the hydrophobic core of the signal sequences of human CETP, apolipoproteins A-IV and A-I, and lipoprotein lipase. This pentapeptide sequence was not found in the signal sequences of other proteins, suggesting that it may mediate a specialized function related to lipid metabolism or transport.

Enzymatic basis of typical X-linked icthyosis

Steroid sulphatase activity was determined in cultured fibroblasts from 25 individuals with X-linked ichthyosis from four countries. All those with X-linked disease had markedly reduced enzyme levels compared with controls and patients with other types of ichthyosis. X-linked ichthyosis seems to be the result of a common mutation affecting the expression of steroid-sulphatase activity.

Targeting cholesteryl ester transfer protein for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease

Epidemiologic studies have shown that the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a strong, independent, inverse predictor of coronary heart disease risk. This identifies HDL-C as a potential therapeutic target. Compared with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering agents, however, currently available HDL-raising drugs are relatively ineffective. Consequently, recent years have seen considerable efforts expended on identifying new drugs that can raise HDL-C. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays an important role in cholesterol metabolism, being responsible for the transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to very low-density lipoproteins and LDLs. The observation that Japanese populations with CETP deficiency exhibited high levels of HDL-C has led to the concept that drugs targeting CETP activity may elevate HDL-C levels and potentially decrease cardiovascular risk. Support of this proposition has been obtained in rabbits where inhibition of CETP activity is markedly antiatherogenic. Two CETP inhibitors-torcetrapib and JTT-705-are currently in the preliminary stages of clinical development. Initial studies with these drugs in humans show that they substantially increase HDL-C levels and modestly decrease LDL-C levels. Larger, long-term, randomized, clinical end point trials are required to determine whether the beneficial effects of CETP inhibitors on lipoprotein metabolism can translate into reductions in cardiovascular events.

Effects of replacement of the hydroxyl group of cholesterol and tocopherol on the thermotropic behavior of phospholipid membranes

The role of the hydroxyl groups of cholesterol and tocopherol in mediating their interaction with phospholipid bilayers has been a subject of considerable interest. We have examined this question by using derivatives of cholesterol and tocopherol in which the hydroxyl group is esterified to succinate. The hemisuccinate esters of cholesterol and alpha-tocopherol can be readily incorporated into phospholipid membranes and in fact can by themselves form closed membrane vesicles as demonstrated by the encapsulation of [3H]sucrose. The thermotropic behavior of mixtures containing each succinate ester and phospholipid was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of cholesteryl hemisuccinate on the thermotropic properties of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine is very similar to that of cholesterol. This indicates that the 3 beta-OH is not required for the formation of a cholesterol-phospholipid complex. In mixtures of tocopherol acid succinate and phospholipids the peak transition temperature is progressively shifted to lower temperatures as the mole fraction of alpha-tocopherol succinate is increased, while the enthalpy of the transition is only slightly affected. At a tocopherol succinate/phospholipid molar ratio of 9/1 a phase transition is still detectable. A comparison between tocopherol succinate and tocopherol indicates that the substitution of the hydroxyl group reduces the interaction of tocopherol with phospholipids to a small but measurable extent. Thus, the hydroxyl group of tocopherol is more important than the hydroxyl group of cholesterol in influencing their interactions with phospholipids.

Structure of human plasma low-density lipoproteins: molecular organization of the central core

Human plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) exhibits a thermal transition over the temperature range 20-40 degrees. This transition is associated with a structural change within the lipoprotein particle and is reflected in the small-angle x-ray scattering profiles from LDL. The scattering profile of the quasispherical LDL particle at 10 degrees shows a relatively intense maximum at 1/36 A-1 which is absent from the scattering of LDL at 45 degrees. Theoretical calculations, using model electron density distributions, have been carried out to describe the packing of arrangement of the cholesterol esters, based on perturbations of the molecular packing of crystalline cholesteryl myristate, adequately reproduces the high relative intensity of the x-ray scattering maximum at 1/36 A-1. The perturbations of the packing in the crystal structure of cholesteryl myristate involve "melting" of the hydrocarbon chains of the esters together with translations of pairs of molecules parallel to the molecular long axis. The interaction of opposing steroid moieties, with C18 and C19 angular methyl groups interlocked, exhibited in the crystal structure is retained in the perturbed arrangement. At 45 degrees, thermally induced disorder of this arrangement averages the electron density of the central core. The x-ray scattering profiles of particles with a homogeneous electron density in the core region do not show a high relative intensity of the subsidiary maxima in the 1/36 A-1 region, in agreement with experimental observation. The results of these calculations support the concept that the thermal transition observed for LDL is due to a smectic leads to disordered transition of the cholesterol esters in the core of the LDL particle.

Triolein-cholesteryl oleate-cholesterol-lecithin emulsions: structural models of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins

The organization of lipids within emulsions composed of triolein (TO), cholesteryl oleate (CO), cholesterol (C), and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (L) was examined. CO was substituted for TO in a series of emulsions to obtain TO:CO ratios comparable to the triglyceride:cholesterol ester ratios observed in subfractions of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. The weight fraction of TO in the surface phase (0.02-0.05) was independent of the TO content of the emulsions. However, the weight fraction of CO in the surface phase depended upon the percentage of CO in the emulsions and was less than 0.004 even when 13.7% CO was present in the emulsion. When CO was substituted for TO, the percent of the total particle C which was carried in the droplet oil phase was increased. The interparticle equilibration of lipids was studied in subfractions of sonicated emulsions with particle sizes comparable to triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. The TO:CO ratios of the subfractions of a given emulsion were constant and independent of size, but the C:L ratio decreased in particles of smaller diameter. However, the surface C:L ratio was the same in all particles from a given emulsion. The size dependence of the C:L ratios was attributed to the partitioning of C into the oil cores of the emulsions. Because large droplets have the greatest core:surface mass ratios, more of their total particle C is carried in the core.

Membrane fusion plays an important role in gene transfection mediated by cationic liposomes

By confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) we have studied the membrane fusion between cationic liposomes and the endosome membranes involved in gene transfection mediated by cationic liposomes. Antisense oligonucleotides were transferred by cationic liposomes with a cationic cholesterol derivative, cholesteryl-3beta-carboxyamidoethylenedimethylamine (I). Cationic liposomes were made by a mixture of the derivative I and DOPE. The intracellular distribution of fluorescein-conjugated antisense oligonucleotides (phosphorothioate) was studied by CLSM. The images showed that the antisense oligonucleotides were preferentially transferred into the nucleus of target cells (NIH3T3, COS-7 and HeLa cells) by the liposomes with derivative I. However, their transfection was completely blocked by nigericin which was able to dissipate the pH gradient across the endosome membranes, although the liposome/DNA complex was found in the cytoplasm of the target cells. This was quite in contrast with the fluorescence images of the target cells treated with wortmannin, an inhibitor of endocytosis. The results suggest that at least two steps are effective for gene transfection mediated by the cationic liposomes with cationic cholesterol derivatives. One is the endocytosis of the liposome/DNA complex into the target cells and the other is the removal of antisense oligonucleotides (plasmid DNAs) from the complex in the endosomes. The latter step was preferentially preceded by the membrane fusion between the cationic liposomes and the endosome membranes at around pH 5.0.