A comparison of the composition and catabolism in vitro of porcine very low density lipoprotein subfractions prepared by gel exclusion and heparin-affinity chromatography

C-reactive protein (CRP), the classical acute-phase protein, can bind phospholipids by virtue of its specific, calcium-dependent reactivity with phosphorylcholine residues. However, analysis of acute-phase serum by gel filtration and by density gradient ultracentrifugation showed that the CRP was in a free, uncomplexed form, despite the coexistent presence of the various classes of serum lipoproteins, all of which contain phospholipids. In contrast, when isolated CRP was aggregated by immobilization at a sufficient density on a solid phase and then exposed to normal human serum, it selectively bound low density lipoprotein (LDL) and traces of very low density lipoprotein. The reaction was calcium dependent and reversible by free phosphorylcholine but not by heparin. LDL isolated from normal plasma was also bound by aggregated CRP. CRP reacts in vitro with a wide variety of different ligands both of extrinsic and of autogenous origin, e.g., microbial products and damaged cell membranes, respectively. If CRP aggregated in vivo by complexing with these ligands than acquires the capacity to selectively bind LDL, the phenomenon may have significant implications for the function of CRP and for the metabolism, clearance, and deposition of LDL.

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Chronic exogenous hyperinsulinaemia does not modify the acute inhibitory effect of insulin on the secretion of very-low-density lipoprotein triacylglycerol and apolipoprotein B in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj3140103 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 314 (1) ◽

pp. 103-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Catherine S. BOURGEOIS ◽

David WIGGINS ◽

Geoffrey F. GIBBONS

Keyword(s):

Apolipoprotein B ◽

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Primary Cultures ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Cell Protein ◽

Very Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Low Density ◽

Plasma Insulin Concentration

Male Wistar rats were fitted with subcutaneous osmotic minipumps that delivered insulin at a constant rate of 0.20 i.u./h for 7 days. This treatment raised the plasma insulin concentration from 31±4 to 201±64 μ-i.u./ml. Hepatocytes prepared from the hyperinsulinaemic animals secreted very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triacylglycerol (TAG) at a higher rate (172±21 μg per 24 h per mg cell protein) than did those from sham-operated controls (109±12 μg per 24 h per mg) (P < 0.05). However, chronic exogenous hyperinsulinaemia had no stimulatory effect on the secretion of VLDL apolipoprotein B (apoB) in derived hepatocytes compared with those from the sham-operated controls (2.32±0.38 compared with 3.09±0.40 μg per 24 h per mg). Hepatocytes from the hyperinsulinaemic rats thus secreted larger VLDL particles as evidenced by the increased TAG:apoB ratio (78.4±13.1 compared with 38.4±7.6; P < 0.05). In hepatocytes from the hyperinsulinaemic rats a larger proportion of the newly synthesized TAG was secreted as VLDL. Hepatocytes from the hyperinsulinaemic and the sham-operated control animals were equally sensitive to the inhibitory effect of insulin added in vitro on the secretion of VLDL TAG. Insulin added in vitro to the culture medium of hepatocytes from hyperinsulinaemic animals significantly decreased the TAG:apoB ratio of the secreted VLDL. This change did not occur in hepatocytes from sham-operated rats. These results suggest that, in vivo, chronic hyperinsulinaemia is not in itself sufficient to desensitize the liver to the acute inhibitory effect of insulin on the secretion of VLDL.

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Long-term maintenance of high rates of very-low-density-lipoprotein secretion in hepatocyte cultures. A model for studying the direct effects of insulin and insulin deficiency in vitro

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2630937 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 263 (3) ◽

pp. 937-943 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

J M Duerden ◽

S M Bartlett ◽

G F Gibbons

Keyword(s):

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Secretory Process ◽

Very Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Low Density ◽

Triacylglycerol Synthesis ◽

Vldl Secretion ◽

Pre Treatment

High rates of hepatic cellular triacylglycerol synthesis and very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) triacylglycerol output were maintained in vitro for at least 3 days when hepatocytes were cultured in a medium lacking insulin but supplemented with 1 microM-dexamethasone, 10 mM-lactate, 1 mM-pyruvate and 0.75 mM-oleate (supplemented medium). Under these conditions VLDL output remained constant, whereas cell triacyglycerol content increased 10-fold over 3 days, suggesting that the secretory process was saturated. Insulin, present during the first 24 h period, enhanced the storage of cellular triacylglycerol by inhibiting the secretion of VLDL. This stored triacyglycerol was subsequently released into the medium as VLDL if insulin was removed. With the supplemented medium the increased rate of VLDL secretion after insulin removal exceeded that observed under ‘saturating’ conditions, suggesting that pre-treatment with insulin enhanced the capacity for VLDL secretion. In contrast with the short-term (24 h) effects of insulin, longer-term exposure (greater than 48 h) to insulin enhanced the secretion of VLDL compared with insulin-untreated cultures. Under these conditions, insulin increased the net rates of triacylglycerol synthesis. The results suggest that insulin affects the secretion of VLDL triacylglycerol by two distinct and opposing mechanisms: first, by direct inhibition of secretion; second by increasing triacylglycerol synthesis, which stimulates secretion. The net effect at any time depends upon the relative importance of each of these processes.

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