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The Journal of Clinical Investigation Sep 2023BACKGROUNDCellular cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events than HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) but is not suitable as a...
BACKGROUNDCellular cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events than HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) but is not suitable as a routine clinical assay.METHODSWe developed an HDL-specific phospholipid efflux (HDL-SPE) assay to assess HDL functionality based on whole plasma HDL apolipoprotein-mediated solubilization of fluorescent phosphatidylethanolamine from artificial lipid donor particles. We first assessed the association of HDL-SPE with prevalent coronary artery disease (CAD): study I included NIH severe-CAD (n = 50) and non-CAD (n = 50) participants, who were frequency matched for sex, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and smoking; study II included Japanese CAD (n = 70) and non-CAD (n = 154) participants. We also examined the association of HDL-SPE with incident CVD events in the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease (PREVEND) study comparing 340 patients with 340 controls individually matched for age, sex, smoking, and HDL-C levels.RESULTSReceiver operating characteristic curves revealed stronger associations of HDL-SPE with prevalent CAD. The AUCs in study I were as follows: HDL-SPE, 0.68; apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), 0.62; HDL-C, 0.63; and CEC, 0.52. The AUCs in study II were as follows: HDL-SPE, 0.83; apoA-I, 0.64; and HDL-C, 0.53. Also longitudinally, HDL-SPE was significantly associated with incident CVD events independent of traditional risk factors with ORs below 0.2 per SD increment in the PREVEND study (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONHDL-SPE could serve as a routine clinical assay for improving CVD risk assessment and drug discovery.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov NCT01621594.FUNDINGNHLBI Intramural Research Program, NIH (HL006095-06).
Topics: Humans; Lipoproteins, HDL; Cardiovascular Diseases; Apolipoprotein A-I; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Coronary Artery Disease; Cholesterol, HDL; Phospholipids
PubMed: 37471145
DOI: 10.1172/JCI165370 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2023Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the pregnancy complications, leading to major maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality; however, the underlying mechanisms of PE still...
Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the pregnancy complications, leading to major maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality; however, the underlying mechanisms of PE still remain unclear. We aimed to explore the role of apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) in the pathophysiology of PE. The expression of APOA1 was elevated in both plasma and placental tissues, as detected by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and a qRT-PCR assay. Importantly, we detected the concentration of APOA1 using the ELISA assay in normal control women ( = 30) and women with preeclampsia ( = 29) from a prospective cohort study. The concentration of APOA1 was not significantly altered in plasma during early and mid-term gestation of the PE patients compared to the NP patients; however, it was elevated during late gestation. Additionally, the concentration of APOA1 was positively associated with systolic blood pressure during late gestation. The proliferation and invasion of trophoblast were all increased in HTR8/SVneo cells transfected with siRNA and decreased in HTR8/SVneo cells treated with the recombinant human APOA1 protein (rhAPOA1). Additionally, we used public datasets to investigate the downstream genes of APOA1 and qRT-PCR for validation. Furthermore, we explored the transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in APOA1 by using a luciferase assay, which showed that the promoter was activated by PPARγ. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of rhAPOA1 on the ability of trophoblast invasion and proliferation can be rescued by the PPARγ inhibitor. Our findings suggest the crucial role of APOA1 in PE, which might provide a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of PE.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Placenta; Pre-Eclampsia; Apolipoprotein A-I; PPAR gamma; Prospective Studies; Trophoblasts; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 38003549
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216363 -
The Journal of Clinical Investigation Dec 2023Why apolipoprotein AV (APOA5) deficiency causes hypertriglyceridemia has remained unclear, but we have suspected that the underlying cause is reduced amounts of...
Why apolipoprotein AV (APOA5) deficiency causes hypertriglyceridemia has remained unclear, but we have suspected that the underlying cause is reduced amounts of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in capillaries. By routine immunohistochemistry, we observed reduced LPL staining of heart and brown adipose tissue (BAT) capillaries in Apoa5-/- mice. Also, after an intravenous injection of LPL-, CD31-, and GPIHBP1-specific mAbs, the binding of LPL Abs to heart and BAT capillaries (relative to CD31 or GPIHBP1 Abs) was reduced in Apoa5-/- mice. LPL levels in the postheparin plasma were also lower in Apoa5-/- mice. We suspected that a recent biochemical observation - that APOA5 binds to the ANGPTL3/8 complex and suppresses its capacity to inhibit LPL catalytic activity - could be related to the low intracapillary LPL levels in Apoa5-/- mice. We showed that an ANGPTL3/8-specific mAb (IBA490) and APOA5 normalized plasma triglyceride (TG) levels and intracapillary LPL levels in Apoa5-/- mice. We also showed that ANGPTL3/8 detached LPL from heparan sulfate proteoglycans and GPIHBP1 on the surface of cells and that the LPL detachment was blocked by IBA490 and APOA5. Our studies explain the hypertriglyceridemia in Apoa5-/- mice and further illuminate the molecular mechanisms that regulate plasma TG metabolism.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Capillaries; Hypertriglyceridemia; Lipoprotein Lipase; Receptors, Lipoprotein; Triglycerides; Apolipoprotein A-V
PubMed: 37824203
DOI: 10.1172/JCI172600 -
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and... Oct 2023Impaired cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is a novel lipid metabolism trait associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Mechanisms underlying CEC variation...
BACKGROUND
Impaired cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is a novel lipid metabolism trait associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Mechanisms underlying CEC variation are unknown. We evaluated associations of circulating metabolites with CEC to advance understanding of metabolic pathways involved in cholesterol efflux regulation.
METHODS
Participants enrolled in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) who underwent nuclear magnetic resonance metabolome profiling and CEC measurement (N=3543) at baseline were included. Metabolite associations with CEC were evaluated using standard linear regression analyses. Repeated ElasticNet and multilayer perceptron regression were used to assess metabolite profile predictive performance for CEC. Features important for CEC prediction were identified using Shapley Additive Explanations values.
RESULTS
Greater CEC was significantly associated with metabolite clusters composed of the largest-sized particle subclasses of VLDL (very-low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), as well as their constituent apo A, apo A, phospholipid, and cholesterol components (β=0.072-0.081; <0.001). Metabolite profiles had poor accuracy for predicting in vitro CEC in linear and nonlinear analyses (R<0.02; Spearman ρ<0.18). The most important feature for CEC prediction was race, with Black participants having significantly lower CEC compared with other races.
CONCLUSIONS
We identified independent associations among CEC, the largest-sized particle subclasses of VLDL and HDL, and their constituent apolipoproteins and lipids. A large proportion of variation in CEC remained unexplained by metabolites and traditional clinical risk factors, supporting further investigation into genomic, proteomic, and phospholipidomic determinants of CEC.
Topics: Humans; Cholesterol, HDL; Proteomics; Lipoproteins, HDL; Cholesterol; Atherosclerosis; Apolipoproteins A
PubMed: 37615111
DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.122.318222 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023The correlation between dyslipidemia and periodontitis is revealed through epidemiological studies. However, the results are affected by several confounding factors....
INTRODUCTION
The correlation between dyslipidemia and periodontitis is revealed through epidemiological studies. However, the results are affected by several confounding factors. This study aims to elucidate the genetic causal association between circulating lipid traits and periodontitis by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
METHODS
After the different screening processes, two cohorts of circulating lipid traits from the UK Biobank were used as exposure data, including five circulating lipid traits. The Periodontitis cohort was selected from the GeneLifestyle Interactions in Dental Endpoints (GLIDE) consortium as outcome data. In univariable MR, the inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used in conjunction with six additional analytical methods to assess causality. The Cochran Q test, I statistic, MR-PRESSO, and MR-Egger intercept were used to quantify heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The multivariable MR-IVW (MVMR-IVW) and MVMR-robust were mainly used as analytical methods in the multiple MR analyses.
RESULTS
The IVW estimates showed that genetically predicted Apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) [odds ratio (OR)=1.158, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.007-1.331, -value=0.040] was potentially associated with the risk of periodontitis, but the statistical power of the results was low. Multivariable MR analysis did not reveal any significant causal relationship between apo A1 and periodontitis (OR=0.72, 95% CI=0.36-1.41, -value=0.34). In the validation cohort, there was also no significant causal relationship between apo A1 and periodontitis (OR=1.079, 95% CI=0.903-1.290, -value=0.401). Meanwhile, genetically predicted Apolipoprotein B (apo B), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) (all -values>0.05) were not significantly associated with the risk of periodontitis causal inference.
CONCLUSION
This MR analysis was unable to provide genetic evidence for the influence of these five circulating lipid traits on periodontitis. However, a more extensive study with a more comprehensive circulating lipid profile and periodontitis data is needed due to study limitations.
Topics: Humans; Apolipoprotein A-I; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Apolipoproteins B; Cholesterol, HDL; Periodontitis
PubMed: 37583432
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1214232 -
JCI Insight Oct 2023Oxidized apolipoprotein B (oxLDL) and oxidized ApoA-I (oxHDL) are proatherogenic. Their prognostic value for assessing high-risk plaques by coronary computed tomography... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Oxidized apolipoprotein B (oxLDL) and oxidized ApoA-I (oxHDL) are proatherogenic. Their prognostic value for assessing high-risk plaques by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is missing.
METHODS
In a prospective, observational study, 306 participants with cardiovascular disease (CVD) had extensive lipoprotein profiling. Proteomics analysis was performed on isolated oxHDL, and atherosclerotic plaque assessment was accomplished by quantitative CCTA.
RESULTS
Patients were predominantly White, overweight men (58.5%) on statin therapy (43.5%). Increase in LDL-C, ApoB, small dense LDL-C (P < 0.001 for all), triglycerides (P = 0.03), and lower HDL function were observed in the high oxLDL group. High oxLDL associated with necrotic burden (NB; β = 0.20; P < 0.0001) and fibrofatty burden (FFB; β = 0.15; P = 0.001) after multivariate adjustment. Low oxHDL had a significant reverse association with these plaque characteristics. Plasma oxHDL levels better predicted NB and FFB after adjustment (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.27-3.88, and OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.71-4.58) compared with oxLDL and HDL-C. Interestingly, oxHDL associated with fibrous burden (FB) change over 3.3 years (β = 0.535; P = 0.033) when compared with oxLDL. Combined Met136 mono-oxidation and Trp132 dioxidation of HDL showed evident association with coronary artery calcium score (r = 0.786; P < 0.001) and FB (r = 0.539; P = 0.012) in high oxHDL, whereas Met136 mono-oxidation significantly associated with vulnerable plaque in low oxHDL.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that the investigated oxidized lipids are associated with high-risk coronary plaque features and progression over time in patients with CVD.
CLINICALTRIALS
gov NCT01621594.
FUNDING
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the NIH Intramural Research Program.
Topics: Humans; Male; Apolipoprotein A-I; Apolipoproteins B; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol, LDL; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 37698922
DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.172893 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023RASopathies are developmental disorders caused by dysregulation of the RAS-MAPK signalling pathway, which contributes to the modulation of multiple extracellular...
BACKGROUND
RASopathies are developmental disorders caused by dysregulation of the RAS-MAPK signalling pathway, which contributes to the modulation of multiple extracellular signals, including hormones and growth factors regulating energetic metabolism, including lipid synthesis, storage, and degradation.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
We evaluated the body composition and lipid profiles of a single-centre cohort of 93 patients with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of RASopathy by assessing height, BMI, and total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, apolipoprotein, fasting glucose, and insulin levels, in the context of a cross sectional and longitudinal study. We specifically investigated and compared anthropometric and haematochemistry data between the Noonan syndrome (NS) and Mazzanti syndrome (NS/LAH) groups.
RESULTS
At the first evaluation (9.5 ± 6.2 years), reduced growth (-1.80 ± 1.07 DS) was associated with a slightly reduced BMI (-0.34 DS ± 1.15 DS). Lipid profiling documented low total cholesterol levels (< 5 percentile) in 42.2% of the NS group; in particular, in 48.9% of patients and in 28.6% of NS/LAH patients compared to the general population, with a significant difference between males and females. A high proportion of patients had HDL levels lower than the 26 percentile, when compared to the age- and sex-matched general population. Triglycerides showed an increasing trend with age only in NS females. Genotype-phenotype correlations were also evident, with particularly reduced total cholesterol in about 50% of patients with mutations with LDL-C and HDL-C tending to decrease during puberty. Similarly, apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B deficits were documented, with differences in prevalence associated with the genotype for apolipoprotein A1. Fasting glucose levels and HOMA-IR were within the normal range.
CONCLUSION
The present findings document an unfavourable lipid profile in subjects with NS, in particular mutated patients, and NS/LAH. Further studies are required to delineate the dysregulation of lipid metabolism in RASopathies more systematically and confirm the occurrence of previously unappreciated genotype-phenotype correlations involving the metabolic profile of these disorders.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Apolipoprotein A-I; Cross-Sectional Studies; Longitudinal Studies; Noonan Syndrome; Genotype; Glucose; Cholesterol
PubMed: 37588986
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1209339 -
BMC Medicine Nov 2023Sepsis is characterized by a dysregulated immune response and metabolic alterations, including decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. HDL...
BACKGROUND
Sepsis is characterized by a dysregulated immune response and metabolic alterations, including decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. HDL exhibits beneficial properties, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) scavenging, exerting anti-inflammatory effects and providing endothelial protection. We investigated the effects of CER-001, an engineered HDL-mimetic, in a swine model of LPS-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and a Phase 2a clinical trial, aiming to better understand its molecular basis in systemic inflammation and renal function.
METHODS
We carried out a translational approach to study the effects of HDL administration on sepsis. Sterile systemic inflammation was induced in pigs by LPS infusion. Animals were randomized into LPS (n = 6), CER20 (single dose of CER-001 20 mg/kg; n = 6), and CER20 × 2 (two doses of CER-001 20 mg/kg; n = 6) groups. Survival rate, endothelial dysfunction biomarkers, pro-inflammatory mediators, LPS, and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) levels were assessed. Renal and liver histology and biochemistry were analyzed. Subsequently, we performed an open-label, randomized, dose-ranging (Phase 2a) study included 20 patients with sepsis due to intra-abdominal infection or urosepsis, randomized into Group A (conventional treatment, n = 5), Group B (CER-001 5 mg/kg BID, n = 5), Group C (CER-001 10 mg/kg BID, n = 5), and Group D (CER-001 20 mg/kg BID, n = 5). Primary outcomes were safety and efficacy in preventing AKI onset and severity; secondary outcomes include changes in inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction markers.
RESULTS
CER-001 increased median survival, reduced inflammatory mediators, complement activation, and endothelial dysfunction in endotoxemic pigs. It enhanced LPS elimination through the bile and preserved liver and renal parenchyma. In the clinical study, CER-001 was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events related to study treatment. Rapid ApoA-I normalization was associated with enhanced LPS removal and immunomodulation with improvement of clinical outcomes, independently of the type and gravity of the sepsis. CER-001-treated patients had reduced risk for the onset and progression to severe AKI (stage 2 or 3) and, in a subset of critically ill patients, a reduced need for organ support and shorter ICU length of stay.
CONCLUSIONS
CER-001 shows promise as a therapeutic strategy for sepsis management, improving outcomes and mitigating inflammation and organ damage.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
The study was approved by the Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA) and by the Local Ethic Committee (N° EUDRACT 2020-004202-60, Protocol CER-001- SEP_AKI_01) and was added to the EU Clinical Trials Register on January 13, 2021.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Swine; Lipoproteins, HDL; Apolipoprotein A-I; Lipopolysaccharides; Translational Research, Biomedical; Inflammation; Sepsis; Acute Kidney Injury; Inflammation Mediators
PubMed: 37915050
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03057-5 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Previous studies have yielded conflicting findings regarding the association between circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs with urinary stones, and the causal...
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have yielded conflicting findings regarding the association between circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs with urinary stones, and the causal relationship between the two remains inconclusive.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the causal relationship between circulating lipids (Triglycerides [TG], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], apolipoprotein A [APOA], apolipoprotein B [APOB] and Pure hypercholesterolaemia), lipid-lowering drugs (HMGCR [HMG-CoA reductase] inhibitors and PCSK9[Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9] inhibitors) and the risk of urinary stones, using genetic data.
METHODS
Genetic instrumental variables (GIVs) for circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs were obtained from the UK Biobank and existing literature. Outcome data were extracted from a genetic association database with 3,625 urinary stone cases and 459,308 controls. Two-sample MR analysis, employing the TwoSampleMR software package in R 4.2.3, was conducted to assess the associations between multiple exposures. The primary outcome was determined using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method for the causal relationship between exposure and outcome, while additional methods such as MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode were utilized as supplementary analyses. Robustness of the Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis results was assessed through leave-one-out analysis and funnel plots.
RESULTS
The MR analysis revealed a significant association between elevated TG levels per 1 standard deviation and the occurrence of urinary stones (odds ratio [OR]: 1.002, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.000-1.003, P = 0.010). However, no significant association was observed between factors other than TG exposure and the risk of urinary stone occurrence across all methods(LDL-C: [OR], 1.001; 95% [CI], 1.000-1.003, P=0.132;HDL-C: [OR], 0.999; 95% [CI], 0.998-1.000, P=0.151;APOA:[OR] being 1.000 (95% [CI], 0.999-1.001, P=0.721;APOB: [OR] of 1.001 (95% [CI], 1.000-1.002, P=0.058;Pure hypercholesterolaemia: [OR] of 1.015 (95% [CI], 0.976-1.055, P=0.455) and lipid-lowering drugs (HMGCR inhibitors: [OR], 0.997; 95% [CI], 0.990-1.003, P=0.301 and PCSK9 inhibitors:[OR], 1.002; 95% [CI], 1.000-1.005, P=0.099).
CONCLUSION
Our findings provide conclusive evidence supporting a causal relationship between an increased risk of urinary stones and elevated serum TG levels. However, we did not find a significant association between urinary stone occurrence and the levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, APOA, APOB, Pure hypercholesterolaemia and lipid-lowering drugs.
Topics: Humans; Proprotein Convertase 9; Cholesterol, LDL; Risk Factors; Hypercholesterolemia; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Hypolipidemic Agents; Triglycerides; Cholesterol, HDL; Apolipoproteins B; Urinary Calculi; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; Apolipoproteins A
PubMed: 38107516
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1301163 -
European Journal of Preventive... Oct 2023To estimate how much information conveyed by self-reported family history of heart disease (FHHD) is already explained by clinical and genetic risk factors.
AIMS
To estimate how much information conveyed by self-reported family history of heart disease (FHHD) is already explained by clinical and genetic risk factors.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Cross-sectional analysis of UK Biobank participants without pre-existing coronary artery disease using a multivariable model with self-reported FHHD as the outcome. Clinical (diabetes, hypertension, smoking, apolipoprotein B-to-apolipoprotein AI ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, lipoprotein(a), triglycerides) and genetic risk factors (polygenic risk score for coronary artery disease [PRSCAD], heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia [HeFH]) were exposures. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and cholesterol-lowering medication use. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted to associate FHHD with risk factors, with continuous variables treated as quintiles. Population attributable risks (PAR) were subsequently calculated from the resultant odds ratios. Among 166 714 individuals, 72 052 (43.2%) participants reported an FHHD. In a multivariable model, genetic risk factors PRSCAD (OR 1.30, CI 1.27-1.33) and HeFH (OR 1.31, 1.11-1.54) were most strongly associated with FHHD. Clinical risk factors followed: hypertension (OR 1.18, CI 1.15-1.21), lipoprotein(a) (OR 1.17, CI 1.14-1.20), apolipoprotein B-to-apolipoprotein AI ratio (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.10-1.16), and triglycerides (OR 1.07, CI 1.04-1.10). For the PAR analyses: 21.9% (CI 18.19-25.63) of the risk of reporting an FHHD is attributed to clinical factors, 22.2% (CI% 20.44-23.88) is attributed to genetic factors, and 36.0% (CI 33.31-38.68) is attributed to genetic and clinical factors combined.
CONCLUSIONS
A combined model of clinical and genetic risk factors explains only 36% of the likelihood of FHHD, implying additional value in the family history.
Topics: Humans; Coronary Artery Disease; Apolipoprotein A-I; Cross-Sectional Studies; Self Report; Risk Factors; Hypertension; Triglycerides; Lipoprotein(a)
PubMed: 37011137
DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad096