Simona Fantappiè

Plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol metabolism in spontaneously hyperlipemic rats

The aim of this study was to characterize the plasma lipoprotein pattern and some aspects of cholesterol metabolism in a line of hyperlipemic male rats. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were increased about 3-fold as compared to control animals (238 vs. 75 and 185 vs. 59 mg/dl respectively). The plasma lipoprotein distribution and the chemical composition of the isolated lipoproteins was unaffected. Plasma triglyceride production rate was increased (40%, P less than 0.01) and post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity in plasma decreased (-28%, P less than 0.01) in the hyperlipemic rat. The activity of 3 enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism (HMG-CoA reductase, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, and acyl-CoA cholesterol-acyltransferase) did not differ from control values. 3H2O incorporation into digitonin-precipitable sterols, however, was significantly higher than in controls. This finding was due, in part, to an increased liver weight in the hyperlipemic animals. Furthermore kinetic data using 125I-LDL showed that the fractional catabolic rate of lipoprotein was within the normal range, while the synthetic rate of LDL protein was increased (0.67 vs. 0.3 mg/kg/h, P less than 0.01) in the hyperlipemic rat. These observations suggest that multiple metabolic defects underline the hyperlipemia observed in this animal model.

Monoclonal antibody 5A binds apolipoprotein B-48 and inhibits the low density lipoprotein-receptor interaction.

In a panel of 10 monoclonal antibodies raised against human LDL we detected three antibodies (named 5A, 6B, and 6E) which recognize both apolipoprotein B-100 and B-48. Antibody 5A inhibited, in a dose dependent manner, the interaction of 125I-LDL with their receptor on human skin fibroblasts. Using thrombolytic fragments, the epitope of antibody 5A was mapped to the carboxy terminal region of apo B-48. MAB 5A was equipotent with MAB Mb 47, an inhibitory antibody whose epitope lies near a putative receptor binding domain of apo B in thrombolytic fragment T2. These findings suggest that areas other than the carboxy terminal portion of apo B-100 may participate in the LDL-receptor interaction, either directly or by determining the exposition of high affinity sites of apo B-100.

Characterization of a family with moderate hypercholesterolemia and binding defective low density lipoprotein

Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB) is a genetic disorder presenting with hypercholesterolemia and abnormal low density lipoprotein (LDL) that binds poorly to LDL receptors. This disease appears to be caused by a mutation in the apo B gene. In the present study thirteen members of a family with moderate hypercholesterolemia (250–350 mg/dl) were investigated. Biochemical studies on cultured skin fibroblasts ruled out classical familial hypercholesterolemia (receptor deficiency). LDL from nine affected members displayed, in an “in vitro” cell binding assay, a reduced affinity (2.5 fold) for the receptor, and had normal electrophoretic mobility, size and chemical composition. Lp(a) levels in family members were comparable to those present in normolipidemics and lower than those observed in primary hypercholesterolemia. The disorder is transmitted over three generations as an autosomal codominant trait and all the affected members are heterozygotes and hypercholesterolemic.

Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies to Human Low Density Lipoprotein

Nine monoclonal antibodies against human low density lipoprotein (LDL), that recognized apoprotein (apo) B-100, have been characterized in terms of specificity and ability to interfere with the receptor-mediated LDL catabolism in cultured human fibroblasts. Three of these antibodies inhibited the LDL-receptor interaction. The epitopes for these inhibitory antibodies have been assigned to the thrombolytic fragment T3 of apo B-100. These results are in agreement with other reports and suggest that the median portion of apo B-100 contains sequence(s) important in the LDL-receptor interaction.