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This study explores the proteomic composition of follicular fluid (FF) from women undergoing oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), with a focus on the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). FF samples were collected from 74 patients, including 34 with PCOS and 40 oocyte donors. Proteomic profiling using machine learning identified significant differences in protein abundance between the PCOS and control groups. Of the 484 quantified proteins, 20 showed significantly altered levels in the PCOS group. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis pointed to the involvement of protease inhibitors and immune-related proteins in the pathophysiology of PCOS, suggesting that inflammation and immune dysregulation may play a key role. Additionally, HDL assembly was identified as a significant pathway, with apolipoprotein-AI (APOA1) and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) as the major proteins involved. Notably, myosin light polypeptide 6 was the most downregulated protein, showing the highest absolute fold change, and may serve as a novel independent biomarker for PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions To investigate the associations of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions and apolipoprotein A‐I (apo A‐I) with fat in the pancreas.A total of 170 individuals were studied. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging on a single 3.0‐Tesla scanner to determine the presence/absence of fatty pancreas. HDL subfractions were measured using a commercially available lipoprotein subfractions testing system and classed as large, intermediate and small HDL. Both unadjusted and adjusted (accounting for demographics, anthropometrics, insulin resistance and other covariates) logistic regression models were built.Individuals with fatty pancreas had significantly lower circulating levels of the large HDL class and apo A‐I. Every unit decrease in the large HDL class was associated with a 93% increase in the likelihood of fatty pancreas in the most adjusted model (P < .001). Every unit decrease in apo A‐I was associated with a 45% increase in the likelihood of fatty pancreas in the most adjusted model (P = .012). The intermediate and small HDL classes were not significantly associated with fatty pancreas.Fat in the pancreas is inversely associated with the circulating levels of large HDL particles and apo A‐I. Purposely designed studies are warranted to investigate the potential of fatty pancreas as an indicator of the risk of cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis (PD) is a common inflammatory disease known to be closely associated with metabolic disorders, particularly hyperlipidemia. In the current study, we demonstrated that hypercholesterolemia is a predisposing factor in the development of PD. Logistic regression analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between PD and dyslipidemia. Data from in vivo (PD mouse model subjected to a high cholesterol diet) and in vitro (cholesterol treatment of gingival fibroblasts [GFs]) experiments showed that excess cholesterol influx into GFs potentially contributes to periodontal inflammation and, subsequently, alveolar bone erosion. Additionally, we compared the protective efficacies of cholesterol-lowering drugs with their different modes of action against PD pathogenesis in mice. Among the cholesterol-lowering drugs we tested, fenofibrate exerted the most protective effect against PD pathogenesis due to an increased level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, a lipoprotein involved in cholesterol efflux from cells and reverse cholesterol transport. Indeed, cholesterol efflux was suppressed during PD progression by downregulation of the apoA-I binding protein (APOA1BP) expression in inflamed GFs. We also demonstrated that the overexpression of APOA1BP efficiently regulated periodontal inflammation and the subsequent alveolar bone loss by inducing cholesterol efflux. Our collective findings highlight the potential utility of currently available cholesterol-lowering medications for the mitigation of PD pathogenesis. By targeting the acceleration of high-density lipoprotein-mediated cellular cholesterol efflux, a new therapeutic approach for PD may become possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jue-Xin Wang,1– 3,&ast; Shi-Jia Yu,4,&ast; Gang Huang,1,2 Yan-Bo Yu,1,2 Yan-Qing Li1,2 1Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, People’s Republic of China; 2Laboratory of Translational Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College, Weifang People’s Hospital, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yan-Bo Yu, Email yuyanbo2000@126.comAbstract: The intestinal barrier system protects the human body from harmful factors, by continuously renewing the intestinal epithelium, tight junctions and enteric microbes. However, dietary fat can harm the intestinal epithelial barrier enhancing gut permeability. In recent years, Apolipoprotein A-I has attracted much attention because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Numerous studies have demonstrated that Apolipoprotein A-I can regulate mucosal immune cells, inhibit the progression of inflammation, promote epithelial proliferation and repair, and maintain physical barrier function; it can also regulate angiogenesis, thereby improving local circulation. This article is intended to elucidate the mechanism by which Apolipoprotein A-I improves intestinal barrier damage caused by dietary fat and to review the role of Apolipoprotein A-I in maintaining intestinal homeostasis.Keywords: intestinal barrier, apolipoprotein A-I, dietary fat, gut microorganism, angiogenesis

Abstract Background Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the association between the blood lipid profiles and the prognosis of IPF is not well defined. We aimed to identify the impacts of lipid profiles on prognosis in patients with IPF. Methods Clinical data of 371 patients with IPF (145 and 226 in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively), including serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I [Apo A-I], and apolipoprotein B), were retrospectively collected. The association with mortality was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results In the derivation cohort, the mean age was 67.5 years, 86.2% were men, and 30.3% died during the follow-up (median: 18.0 months). Non-survivors showed lower lung function and greater gender-age-physiology scores than survivors. Among the serum lipid profiles, the levels of triglyceride and Apo A-I were significantly lower in non-survivors than in survivors. In the multivariate Cox analysis, low Apo A-I levels (

Kailun Yan, Jiawen Li, Pei Zhu, Xiaofang Tang, Yulong Li, Yuejin Yang, Runlin Gao, Jinqing Yuan, Xueyan Zhao National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xueyan Zhao; Jinqing Yuan, National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-10-88322451, Fax +86-10-68351786, Email zhao_xueyan@sina.com; jqyuanfw@163.comPurpose: The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) and cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease remains inconsistent. Recent investigations indicated potential dysfunctionality of HDL under inflammation. This study endeavors to explore whether the inflammatory status modifies the effects of HDL-C and ApoA-I on cardiovascular risk in individuals with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Patients and Methods: Consecutive 10,724 PCI patients at Fuwai hospital in 2013 were enrolled. Inflammation status was defined by high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins (hsCRP) ≥ 2 mg/L. The study endpoint was cardiac mortality.Results: Among 9569 PCI patients eventually included, 225 (2.4%) cardiac mortality happened during 5 years. In hsCRP ≥ 2 mg/L group, an U-shaped curve was observed for HDL-C and multivariate Cox regression showed that elevated risks of cardiac mortality correlated to both the lowest quintile (hazard ratio [HR], 2.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32– 4.71) and the highest quintile of HDL-C (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.23– 4.25). However, an L-shaped curve existed in ApoA-I, indicating only the lowest quintile level of ApoA-I was associated with an increased cardiac mortality risk (HR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.28– 3.75). Nevertheless, in hsCRP < 2 mg/L group, no significant correlations between HDL-C and ApoA-I and cardiac mortality risk were identified (both P > 0.05).Conclusion: In PCI patients with hsCRP ≥ 2 mg/L. both low and high HDL-C levels correlated with higher cardiac mortality risk (U-shaped), while only low ApoA-I levels were linked to elevated risk (L-shaped). However, in patients with hsCRP < 2 mg/L, neither HDL-C nor ApoA-I levels were associated with higher cardiac mortality risk. These findings shed light on the importance of considering inflammation status, particularly hsCRP levels, in managing HDL-C and ApoA-I levels, and suggest targeting elevated ApoA-I levels as a potential therapeutic approach for PCI patients with hsCRP ≥ 2 mg/L. Keywords: apolipoprotein A-I, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, inflammation, mortality, percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract Introduction This study investigated the possible relationship between the Apo lipoprotein A1 /high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ApoA1/HDL-C) ratio and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods This was a matched case-control study of 482 patients with T2D in two groups of CAD and (n = 241) non-CAD (n = 241). The patients were classified into four quartiles according to the ApoA1/HDL-C ratio, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between ApoA1/HDL-C and CAD. ROC analysis was also conducted. Results This study showed that the ApoA1/HDL-C ratio has an independent association with CAD in individuals with T2D. The CAD group exhibited a significantly higher ApoA1/HDL-C ratio than those without CAD (p-value = 0.004). Moreover, the risk of CAD increased significantly across the ApoA1/HDL-C ratio quartiles, with the highest odds in the fourth quartile. The second quartile showed an odds ratio (OR) of 2.03 (p-value = 0.048) compared to the first. Moving to the third quartile, the OR increased to 2.23 (p-value = 0.023). The highest OR was noted in the fourth, reaching 3.41 (p-value = 0.001). Employing a cut-off value of 2.66 and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.885, the ApoA1/HDL-C ratio predicts CAD among patients with T2D with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 91% (p-value

Autoantibodies against apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) are associated with cardiovascular disease risks. We aimed to examine the 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) modification of ApoA-I in coronary artery disease (CAD) and evaluate the potential risk of autoantibodies against their unmodified and HNE-modified peptides. We assessed plasma levels of ApoA-I, HNE-protein adducts, and autoantibodies against unmodified and HNE-peptide adducts, and significant correlations and odds ratios (ORs) were examined. Two novel CAD-specific HNE-peptide adducts, ApoA-I251–262 and ApoA-I70–83, were identified. Notably, immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-ApoA-I251–262 HNE, IgM anti-ApoA-I70–83 HNE, IgG anti-ApoA-I251–262, IgG anti-ApoA-I70–83, and HNE-protein adducts were significantly correlated with triglycerides, creatinine, or high-density lipoprotein in CAD with various degrees of stenosis (70%). The HNE-protein adduct (OR = 2.208-fold, p = 0.020) and IgM anti-ApoA-I251–262 HNE (2.046-fold, p = 0.035) showed an increased risk of progression from >30% stenosis in CAD. HNE-protein adducts and IgM anti-ApoA-I251–262 HNE may increase the severity of CAD at high and low levels, respectively.

Objective To analyze blood lipid levels in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and further explore the factors associated with abnormal blood lipids. Methods Eighty-eight newly diagnosed MDS patients were selected as the study group, and 100 healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Fasting blood lipid levels, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and ApoB were detected before treatment in the study group and the control group. The differences of serum lipid levels in MDS patients with different WHO-MDS classification, modified International Prognostic Score System (IPSS-R) karyotype, risk stratification and TP53 mutation were investigated. The correlation between ApoA1 level and clinical indicators of MDS patients was analyzed, and clinical indicators of different ApoA1 level groups were compared. Results The levels of TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA1 and ApoB were significantly lower in the study group than those in the control group (P＜0.01). There were no significant differences in TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA1 and ApoB levels between different subgroups. The ApoA1 level was lower in the IPSS-R high-risk stratification group than that of the IPSS-R low-risk stratification group (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in lipid levels between the different karyotype groups. The level of ApoA1 was lower in the TP53 mutant group than that in the non-TP53 mutant group (P＜ 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that ApoA1 level was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI, P＜0.05), and negatively correlated with patient age, percentage of bone marrow original cells, IPSS-R karyotype grouping, IPSS-R risk grouping and TP53 gene mutation (P＜0.05). The BMI level was lower in the low ApoA1 group than that of the high ApoA1 group (P＜0.05). The percentage of bone marrow original cells and TP53 gene mutation rate of MDS patients were higher in the low ApoA1 group than those in the high ApoA1 group (P＜0.05). Conclusion The plasma lipid level in MDS patients is significantly lower than that of healthy controls, and levels of ApoA1 varied significantly in different disease states, which may be associated with TP53 gene mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to study the possibility of using apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) as a transport variant form of green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene in rat hepatocytes. Cultured rat hepatocytes were used as a model. The conjugate of apo A-I with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was prepared by incubation of the apo A-I protein with FITC in carbonate buffer, pH 9.5, at a ratio of 1.5 μg of FITC per 1 mg of the protein. Plasmids for pE-GAG transfection with an inserted GFP gene were enriched in the promoter region with cis-elements of CC(GCC)3-5 type to enhance complex formation with apo A-I. An inverted fluorescence microscope was used to visually analyze cell fluorescence. The work presents evidence of penetration of FITC-labeled apo A-I into the cytoplasm and nuclei of rat hepatocytes through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Based on this evidence, it was attempted to use apo A-I as a an agent of targeted delivery of plasmid DNA with an inserted GFP gene into a cell. According to the results of fluorescence microscopy, using apo A-I as a transfection agent for plasmid DNA resulted in accumulation of GFP protein in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Expression of the GFP gene and accumulation of fluorescent protein were not observed in the absence of apo A-I. The results obtained may indicate the delivery of GFP gene to the nuclear apparatus of the cell, its expression and synthesis of GFP protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apolipoprotein A-I(ApoA-I) is a member of blood apolipoproteins, it is the main component of High density lipoprotein(HDL). ApoA-I undergoes a series of complex processes from its generation to its composition as spherical HDL. It not only has a cholesterol reversal transport function, but also has a function in modulating the inflammatory response. ApoA-I exerts its anti-inflammatory effects mainly by regulating the functions of immune cells, such as monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and T lymphocytes. It also modulates the function of vascular endothelial cells and adipocytes. Additionally, ApoA-I directly exerts anti-inflammatory effects against pathogenic microorganisms or their products. Intensive research on ApoA-I will hopefully lead to better diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the association between the blood lipid profiles and the prognosis of IPF is not well defined. We aimed to identify the impacts of lipid profiles on prognosis in patients with IPF. Methods: Clinical data of 371 patients with IPF (145 and 226 in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively), including serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I [Apo A-I], and apolipoprotein B), were retrospectively collected. The association with mortality was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: In the derivation cohort, the mean age was 67.5 years, 86.2% were men, and 30.3% died during the follow-up (median: 18.0 months). Non-survivors showed lower lung function and greater gender-age-physiology scores than survivors. Among the serum lipid profiles, the levels of triglyceride and Apo A-I were significantly lower in non-survivors than in survivors. In the multivariate Cox analysis, low Apo A-I levels (< 140 mg/dL) were independently associated with the risk of mortality (hazard ratio 3.910, 95% confidence interval 1.170-13.069; P = 0.027), when adjusted for smoking history, body mass index, GAP score, and antifibrotic agent use. In both derivation and validation cohorts, patients with low Apo A-I levels (< 140 mg/dL) had worse survival (median survival: [derivation] 34.0 months vs. not reached, P = 0.003; [validation] 40.0 vs. 53.0 months, P = 0.027) than those with high Apo A-I levels in the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Conclusions: Our results indicate that low serum Apo A-1 levels are an independent predictor of mortality in patients with IPF, suggesting the utility of serum Apo A-I as a prognostic biomarker in IPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This article explores the association between fractures, particularly in the elderly, and elevated plasma high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels. The study challenges the conventional idea of HDL‐C as "good cholesterol" by revealing its potential role as a risk factor for fractures. Factors contributing to fractures in the elderly, such as diminishing bone strength due to aging‐related tissue breakdown, are discussed. Sedentary lifestyles, low bone mineral density (BMD), and habits like smoking and alcohol consumption compound fracture susceptibility. Materials and Methods: The study delves into mechanisms linking elevated HDL‐C to fractures, using data from the ASPREE‐Fracturesub‐study of the ASPREE trial involving Australian and American participants aged 65 and above. Results: The study showed that over a 4‐year period, elevated HDL‐C levels in healthy older people were linked to a 14% higher fracture risk. This revelation expands the understanding of fracture risk factors beyond the established norms. Conclusion: The article emphasizes the need to reconsider HDL‐C's traditional role as an indicator of cardiovascular health, particularly in light of medications like Statins and Anacetrapib that raise HDL‐C levels. It calls for further exploration into the relationship between HDL‐C, fractures at varying sites, and different age groups. Practical implications involve incorporating fracture risk associated with high HDL‐C into clinical considerations, alongside advocating lifestyle changes for optimal HDL‐C levels. In summary, this study prompts a reevaluation of HDL‐C's implications in clinical practice, demanding further investigation into the intricacies of this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of coexisting cardiovascular risk factors. This study aimed to assess the evidence for the association between the apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein A1, and the MetS in children and adolescents. Methods: The English electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched up to February 28, 2022. To ascertain the validity of eligible studies, modified JBI scale was used. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using the random-effects model to evaluate the association between the apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein A1 and the MetS. Heterogeneity amongst the studies was determined by the use of the Galbraith diagram, Cochran's Q-test, and I2 test. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's and Begg's tests. Results: From 7356 records, 5 studies were included in the meta-analysis, representing a total number of 232 participants with MetS and 1320 participants as control group. The results indicated that increased levels of apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio (SMD 1.26; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.47) and apolipoprotein B (SMD 0.75; 95% CI: 0.36, 1.14) and decreased levels of apolipoprotein A1 (SMD -0.53; 95% CI: −0.69, −0.37) are linked to the presence of MetS. The notable findings were, children and adolescents with MetS had elevated levels of the apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio, apolipoprotein B, and decreased levels of apolipoprotein A1. Conclusions: Our results suggest the need to evaluate the levels of apolipoproteins for detecting the risk of MetS in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐density lipoproteins (HDLs) are responsible for removing cholesterol from arterial walls, through a process known as reverse cholesterol transport. The main protein in HDL, apolipoprotein A‐I (ApoA‐I), is essential to this process, and changes in its sequence significantly alter HDL structure and functions. ApoA‐I amyloidogenic variants, associated with a particular hereditary degenerative disease, are particularly effective at facilitating cholesterol removal, thus protecting carriers from cardiovascular disease. Thus, it is conceivable that reconstituted HDL (rHDL) formulations containing ApoA‐I proteins with functional/structural features similar to those of amyloidogenic variants hold potential as a promising therapeutic approach. Here we explored the effect of protein cargo and lipid composition on the function of rHDL containing one of the ApoA‐I amyloidogenic variants G26R or L174S by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and neutron reflectometry. Moreover, small‐angle x‐ray scattering uncovered the structural and functional differences between rHDL particles, which could help to comprehend higher cholesterol efflux activity and apparent lower phospholipid (PL) affinity. Our findings indicate distinct trends in lipid exchange (removal vs. deposition) capacities of various rHDL particles, with the rHDL containing the ApoA‐I amyloidogenic variants showing a markedly lower ability to remove lipids from artificial membranes compared to the rHDL containing the native protein. This effect strongly depends on the level of PL unsaturation and on the particles' ultrastructure. The study highlights the importance of the protein cargo, along with lipid composition, in shaping rHDL structure, contributing to our understanding of lipid–protein interactions and their behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the association between serum apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) levels and the risk of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in hospitalized patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods This cross‐sectional study included 670 newly diagnosed T2DM patients who were hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology of Xuzhou Municipal Hospital, affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University from January 2018 to May 2022. Patient data including age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, duration of diabetes mellitus, body mass index (BMI), previous medical history, previous medication history, diabetes complications, ApoA1, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), lipoprotein a (LPa), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), apolipoprotein E (ApoE), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c ), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urinary albumin ‐ to ‐ creatinine ratio (UACR) were collected. Patients were categorized into DKD (233 patients) and non‐DKD (437 patients) groups according to the presence or absence of DKD. The t test, rank sum test and χ² test were used for between‐group comparisons of quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively. The correlation between serum ApoA1 levels and DKD risk was assessed by multivariate logistic regression. Results Serum ApoA1 levels were significantly lower in the DKD group when compared to the non‐DKD group [(1.36± 0.40) vs. (1.53±0.35) g/L, respectively, t=5.22, P<0.010]. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, duration of diabetes, BMI, hypertension, antihypertensive medication, TG, TC, LDL‐C, HDL‐C, LPa, ApoB, ApoE, FPG, HbA1c, eGFR, and UACR, a significant correlation was found between the serum ApoA1 level and the risk of DKD in logistic regression (OR=0.24, P=0.010). Conclusions Among newly diagnosed T2DM patients, serum ApoA1 levels were significantly lower in those with DKD than in those without DKD, and serum ApoA1 levels were significantly and negatively associated with the risk of DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior animal and cell studies have demonstrated a direct role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) in enhancing skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and exercise capacity. However, the relevance of these animal and cell investigations in humans remains unknown. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 48 adults (67% female, 8% Black participants, age 39 ± 15.4 yr old) to characterize the associations between HDL measures, ApoA-I, and muscle mitochondrial function. Forearm muscle oxygen recovery time (tau) from postexercise recovery kinetics was used to assess skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. Lipoprotein measures were assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance. HDL efflux capacity was assessed using J774 macrophages, radiolabeled cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B-depleted plasma both with and without added cyclic adenosine monophosphate. In univariate analyses, faster skeletal muscle oxygen recovery time (lower tau) was significantly associated with higher levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), ApoA-I, and larger mean HDL size, but not HDL cholesterol efflux capacity. Slower recovery time (higher tau) was positively associated with body mass index (BMI) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). In multivariable linear regression analyses, higher levels of HDL-C and ApoA-I, as well as larger HDL size, were independently associated with faster skeletal muscle oxygen recovery times that persisted after adjusting for BMI and FPG (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, higher levels of HDL-C, ApoA-I, and larger mean HDL size were independently associated with enhanced skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in healthy humans. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Our study provides the first direct evidence supporting the beneficial role of HDL-C and ApoA-I on enhanced skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in healthy young to middle-aged humans without cardiometabolic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein corona has long been a source of concern, as it might impair the targeting efficacy of targeted drug delivery systems. However, engineered up-regulating the adsorption of certain functional serum proteins could provide nanoparticles with specific targeting drug delivery capacity. Herein, apolipoprotein A-I absorption increased nanoparticles (SPC-PLGA NPs), composed with the Food and Drug Administration approved intravenously injectable soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and poly (DL-lactide- co -glycolide) (PLGA), were fabricated for enhanced glioma targeting. Due to the high affinity of SPC and apolipoprotein A-I, the percentage of apolipoprotein A-I in the protein corona of SPC-PLGA NPs was 2.19-fold higher than that of nanoparticles without SPC, which made SPC-PLGA NPs have superior glioma targeting ability through binding to scavenger receptor class B I on blood-brain barrier and glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo. SPC-PLGA NPs loaded with paclitaxel could effectively reduce glioma invasion and prolong the survival time of glioma-bearing mice. In conclusion, we provided a good example of the direction of achieving targeting drug delivery based on protein corona regulation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) is a key marker for atherosclerosis, with its modulation being crucial for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment. While thyroid function's impact on cardiovascular health is recognized, the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms influencing CIMT remain to be elucidated. Methods: In this study, Mendelian Randomization (MR) was employed to assess the causal relationship between thyroid function and CIMT. Thyroid hormone data were sourced from the Thyroidomics Consortium, while lipid traits and CIMT measurements were obtained from the UK Biobank. The primary analysis method was a two-sample MR using multiplicative random effects inverse variance weighting (IVW-MRE). Additionally, the study explored the influence of thyroid hormones on lipid profiles and assessed their potential mediating role in the thyroid function-CIMT relationship through multivariate MR analysis. Results: The study revealed that lower levels of Free Thyroxine (FT4) within the normal range are significantly associated with increased CIMT. This association was not observed with free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), or TPOAb. Additionally, mediation analysis suggested that apolipoprotein A-I and B are involved in the relationship between thyroid function and CIMT. The findings indicate a potential U-shaped curve relationship between FT4 levels and CIMT, with thyroid hormone supplementation in hypothyroid patients showing benefits in reducing CIMT. Conclusion: This research establishes a causal link between thyroid function and CIMT using MR methods, underscoring the importance of monitoring thyroid function for early cardiovascular risk assessment. The results advocate for the consideration of thyroid hormone supplementation in hypothyroid patients as a strategy to mitigate the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. These insights pave the way for more targeted approaches in managing patients with thyroid dysfunction to prevent cardiovascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a part of the current standard of care in a locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EGJA), but only patients with good pathomorphological response (pR) to NAC benefit from prolonged overall survival. Aim: The study aims to evaluate ApoA-I and ApoB as candidate pre-treatment biomarkers of pR to NAC in patients with GA and EGJA. Materials and methods: Serum samples were collected from 18 patients with GA and 9 with EGJA before the initiation of NAC to determine the ApoA-I and ApoB levels. After NAC tumor regression grade (TRG) was evaluated in resected specimens according to the Mandard's tumor regression grading system and correlated with pre-treatment ApoA-I and ApoB serum concentration, and ApoB-to-ApoA-I serum concentration ratio. Results: We found a positive correlation of ApoA-I level and pR (95% CI: -0.863 to -0.467; P < 0.0001), a negative correlation of ApoB level and pR (95% CI: 0.445 to 0.857; P < 0.0001), a negative correlation of ApoB-to-ApoA-I ratio and pR (95% CI: 0.835 to 0.964; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: ApoA-I and ApoB levels, and ApoB-to-ApoA-I ratio are candidate pre-treatment predictors of pR to NAC in GA and may help to guide personalized therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a major challenge for the treatment of neurological diseases. Huntington disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide expansion mutation in the HTT gene which codes for a toxic mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. Pharmacological reduction of mHTT in the CNS using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) ameliorates HD-like phenotypes in rodent models of HD, with such therapies being investigated in clinical trials for HD. In this study, we report the optimization of apolipoprotein A-I nanodisks (apoA-I NDs) as vehicles for delivery of a HTT -targeted ASO (HTT ASO) to the brain and peripheral organs for HD. We demonstrate that apoA-I wild type (WT) and the apoA-I K133C mutant incubated with a synthetic lipid, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, can self-assemble into monodisperse discoidal particles with diameters <20 nm that transmigrate across an in vitro blood-brain barrier model of HD. We demonstrate that apoA-I NDs are well tolerated in vivo , and that apoA-I K133C NDs show enhanced distribution to the CNS and peripheral organs compared to apoA-I WT NDs following systemic administration. ApoA-I K133C conjugated with HTT ASO forms NDs (HTT ASO NDs) that induce significant mHTT lowering in the liver, skeletal muscle and heart as well as in the brain when delivered intravenously in the BACHD mouse model of HD. Furthermore, HTT ASO NDs increase the magnitude of mHTT lowering in the striatum and cortex compared to HTT ASO alone following intracerebroventricular administration. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of apoA-I NDs as biocompatible vehicles for enhancing delivery of mutant HTT lowering ASOs to the CNS and peripheral organs for HD. Top: Conjugation of a HTT -targeted antisense oligonucleotide (HTT ASO) to apolipoprotein A-I K133C (apoA-I K133C) and incubated with the synthetic lipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) can self-assemble to form nanodisks (HTT ASO NDs). Bottom left: Intravenous (IV) administration of HTT ASO NDs in a mouse model of Huntington disease results in significant lowering of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein levels in the brain, skeletal muscle, liver, and heart. Bottom right: Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of HTT ASO NDs in a mouse model of Huntington disease enhances mHTT lowering in the cortex and striatum. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yinhui Zeng,1,&ast; Jinyuan Li,1,&ast; Yueqiang Wen,2,&ast; Haiqing Xiao,1 Chao Yang,1 Qingxiang Zeng,1 Wenlong Liu1 1Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wenlong Liu, Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, People’s Republic of China, Email lwl20103@163.comPurpose: Eosinophils have pivotal roles in the development of allergic rhinitis (AR) through the release of cytotoxic substances. Apolipoprotein A-I (Apo-AI) exhibits a strong inhibitory effect on eosinophil infiltration in allergic diseases. Nevertheless, the precise impact of Apolipoprotein A-I on eosinophils remains uncertain.Methods: Our study recruited a total of 15 AR children and 15 controls. The correlation between Apo-AI expression and the counts of blood eosinophils was examined. Flow cytometry was employed to assess the role of Apo-AI in eosinophil apoptosis and adhesion. The Transwell system was performed to conduct the migration assay. An animal model using AR mice was established to test the effect of Apo-AI on eosinophils.Results: Serum Apo-AI were negatively related to eosinophils counts and eosinophil chemotactic protein levels in AR. Apo-AI exerts a pro-apoptotic effect while also impeding the processes of adhesion, migration, and activation of eosinophils. The apoptosis triggered by Apo-AI was facilitated through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. The chemotaxis and activation of eosinophils, which are influenced by Apolipoprotein A-I, are regulated through the PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways. Apo-AI treated mice presented with decreased blood and nasal eosinophilic inflammation as well as down-regulated eosinophil related cytokines.Conclusion: Our findings provide confirmation that Apo-AI exhibits inhibitory effects on the function of eosinophils in allergic rhinitis. This suggests that Apo-AI holds potential as a therapeutic target for future treatment strategies.Keywords: apolipoprotein A-I, eosinophils, allergic rhinitis, apoptosis, adhesion, migration, activation

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the fungicidal effect of a chimeric form of recombinant interferon alpha-2b, fused with human apolipoprotein A-I, obtained by biosynthesis in the yeast Pichia рastoris, against significant fungal pathogens – pathogens of human and plant diseases.Material and methods. The fungicidal activity of the chimeric cytokine was assessed using the agar block method against fungal pathogens: Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus spp. and Penicillum spp. The fungicidal effect was assessed visually and by microscopy of a section of the fungal body stained with methylene blue, the germination of fungal spores – by subculture, the cytotoxicity of interferon preparations – on Vero cell culture.Results and discussion. The studied recombinant interferons suppress the growth and reproduction of pathogenic fungi. Chimeric IFN has the greatest effect against pathogenic fungi A. alternate, Penicillum at a concentration of 15 ng/ml; inhibition of sporulation of fungi F. oxysporum and Aspergillus up to 87 % is achieved at a concentration of 150 ng/ml. The cytotoxicity of the new chimeric cytokine is 5,8 μg/ml, which is significantly more than toxic concentrations for fungi.Conclusions. The chimeric form of interferon alpha-2b can be used as an immunotherapeutic agent with fungicidal activity.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) contributes to reverse cholesterol transport, which is 1 of the main explanations for the described inverse association between HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. However, efforts to therapeutically raise HDL-C levels with niacin, fibrates, or cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors have not demonstrated a reduction in ASCVD events when compared with placebo among individuals treated with statins. Furthermore, mendelian randomization studies suggest that HDL-C is unlikely to be a direct biologic variable impacting ASCVD risk. More recently, observations from well-conducted epidemiologic studies have indicated a nonlinear U-shaped relationship between HDL-C and subclinical atherosclerosis, and that very high HDL-C (≥80 mg/dL in men, ≥100 mg/dL in women) is paradoxically associated with higher all-cause and ASCVD-related mortality. These observations suggest that HDL-C is not a universal protective factor for atherosclerosis. Thus, there are several opportunities for reframing the contribution of HDL-C to ASCVD risk and related clinical calculators. Here, we examine our growing understanding of HDL-C and its role in ASCVD risk assessment, treatment, and prevention. We discuss the biological functions of HDL-C and its normative values in relation to demographics and lifestyle markers. We then summarize original studies that observed a protective association between HDL-C and ASCVD risk and more recent evidence indicating an elevated ASCVD risk at very high HDL-C levels. Through this process, we advance the discussion regarding the future role of HDL-C in ASCVD risk assessment and identify knowledge gaps pertaining to the precise role of HDL-C in atherosclerosis and clinical ASCVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity and overweight, frequently caused by a lack of exercise, are associated with many metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Aerobic exercise effectively increases the high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and alleviates the triglyceride (TG) levels. The consumption of Cuban policosanol (Raydel®) is also effective in enhancing the HDL-C quantity and HDL functionality to treat dyslipidemia and hypertension. On the other hand, no study has examined the effects of a combination of high-intensity exercise and policosanol consumption in obese subjects to improve metabolic disorders. In the current study, 17 obese subjects (average BMI 30.1 ± 1.1 kg/m2, eight male and nine female) were recruited to participate in a program combining exercise and policosanol (20 mg) consumption for 12 weeks. After completion, their BMI, waist circumference, total fat mass, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reduced significantly up to around −15%, −13%, −33%, −11%, and −13%, respectively. In the serum lipid profile, at Week 12, a significant reduction was observed in the total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, up to −17% and −54% from the baseline, respectively. The serum HDL-C was elevated by approximately +12% from the baseline, as well as the percentage of HDL-C in TC, and HDL-C/TC (%), was enhanced by up to +32% at Week 12. The serum coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) level was increased 1.2-fold from the baseline in all participants at Week 12. In particular, the male participants exhibited a 1.4-fold increase from the baseline. The larger rise in serum CoQ10 was correlated with the larger increase in the serum HDL-C (r = 0.621, p = 0.018). The hepatic function parameters were improved; the serum γ-glutamyl transferase decreased at Week 12 by up to −55% (p < 0.007), while the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase levels diminished within the normal range. In the lipoprotein level, the extent of oxidation and glycation were reduced significantly with the reduction in TG content. The antioxidant abilities of HDL, such as paraoxonase (PON) and ferric ion reduction ability (FRA), were enhanced significantly by up to 1.8-fold and 1.6-fold at Week 12. The particle size and number of HDL were elevated up to +10% during the 12 weeks, with a remarkable decline in the TG content, glycation extent, and oxidation. The improvements in HDL quality and functionality were linked to the higher survivability of adult zebrafish and their embryos, under the co-presence of carboxymethyllysine (CML), a pro-inflammatory molecule known to cause acute death. In conclusion, 12 weeks of Cuban policosanol (Raydel®, 20 mg) consumption with high-intensity exercise displayed a significant improvement in blood pressure, body fat mass, blood lipid profile without liver damage, CoQ10 metabolism, and renal impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is associated with progressive decline in functions which may impact cardiovascular health negatively. This crosssectional study assessed anthropometric indices, blood pressure and some apolipoproteins in older adults in Nnewi. One hundred and twenty-eight participants (64 older adults and 64 control subjects) were recruited for the study using simple random sampling. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were determined using standard methods. Five milliliters (5ml) of venous sample were taken from each participant after 10--12 hours of fasting, minimizing stasis, and placed in plain containers for the determination of apolipoprotein A--I (apoA--I) and apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) levels using Immunoturbidimetric method. The older persons had significantly (p<0.05) lower mean serum apoA-I and higher apoB100 level, apoB100/apoA-1 ratio, BMI, WHR, SBP and DBP values compared to control subjects respectively. Furthermore, the mean serum apoB100 and apoB100/apoA-I ratio, as well as the mean WC, WHR, SBP, and DBP, were all significantly higher while the mean serum apoA-I level was lower in the older males compared to the control males (p<0.05). Also, the older females had significantly higher mean SBP, DBP, apoB100 and apoB100/apoA-I ratio with significantly lower apoA-I compared to the female control (p<0.05). The findings of this study revealed significant changes in anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and apolipoprotein levels in older persons, necessitating guidance for Medical Laboratory scientists and Clinicians in their interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have been found to take part in type 2 inflammation by secreting TH2 cytokines. Apolipoprotein A-I (Apo-AI), a major structural and functional protein of high-density lipoproteins, has anti-inflammatory effects on neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and eosinophils. However, its effects on ILC2s are not well characterized. Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of Apo-AI on the proliferation and function of ILC2s as well as its possible mechanism. Methods: The protein expression of Apo-AI and the percentage of ILC2s in peripheral blood between 20 allergic rhinitis patients and 20 controls were detected by ELISA and flow cytometry. The effect of Apo-AI and miR-155 on ILC2 proliferation and function was detected by tritiated thymidine incorporation and ELISA. Anima models were adopted to verify the effect of Apo-AI in vivo. Results: Elevated expression of Apo-AI was observed in allergic rhinitis patients. Apo-AI promotes ABCA1 expression by ILC2s, which can be inhibited by anti–Apo-AI. Apo-AI decreased ILC2 proliferation and the microRNA levels of GATA3 and RORα from ILC2s. The miR-155 overexpression promoted the upregulation of GATA3 and type II cytokines from ILC2s, while the addition of Apo-AI or miR-155 inhibitor significantly inhibited expression of GATA3 and type II cytokines by ILC2s. Apo-AI−/− mice showed as enhanced allergen-induced airway inflammation. The miR-155 inhibitor can reverse the enhanced allergen-induced airway inflammation in Apo-AI−/− mice, while miR-155 mimics can reverse the decreased allergen-induced airway inflammation in Apo-AI–treated mice. Conclusion: Apo-AI suppressed the proliferation and function of ILC2s through miR-155 in allergic rhinitis. Our data provide new insights into the mechanism of allergen-induced airway inflammation.

BackgroundCarotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) is a key marker for atherosclerosis, with its modulation being crucial for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment. While thyroid function’s impact on cardiovascular health is recognized, the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms influencing CIMT remain to be elucidated.MethodsIn this study, Mendelian Randomization (MR) was employed to assess the causal relationship between thyroid function and CIMT. Thyroid hormone data were sourced from the Thyroidomics Consortium, while lipid traits and CIMT measurements were obtained from the UK Biobank. The primary analysis method was a two-sample MR using multiplicative random effects inverse variance weighting (IVW-MRE). Additionally, the study explored the influence of thyroid hormones on lipid profiles and assessed their potential mediating role in the thyroid function-CIMT relationship through multivariate MR analysis.ResultsThe study revealed that lower levels of Free Thyroxine (FT4) within the normal range are significantly associated with increased CIMT. This association was not observed with free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), or TPOAb. Additionally, mediation analysis suggested that apolipoprotein A-I and B are involved in the relationship between thyroid function and CIMT. The findings indicate a potential U-shaped curve relationship between FT4 levels and CIMT, with thyroid hormone supplementation in hypothyroid patients showing benefits in reducing CIMT.ConclusionThis research establishes a causal link between thyroid function and CIMT using MR methods, underscoring the importance of monitoring thyroid function for early cardiovascular risk assessment. The results advocate for the consideration of thyroid hormone supplementation in hypothyroid patients as a strategy to mitigate the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. These insights pave the way for more targeted approaches in managing patients with thyroid dysfunction to prevent cardiovascular complications.

IntroductionThe new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, poses complex challenges exacerbated by several factors, with respiratory tissue lesions being notably significant among them. Consequently, there is a pressing need to identify informative biological markers that can indicate the severity of the disease. Several studies have highlighted the involvement of proteins such as APOA1, XPNPEP2, ORP150, CUBN, HCII, and CREB3L3 in these respiratory tissue lesions. However, there is a lack of information regarding antibodies to these proteins in the human body, which could potentially serve as valuable diagnostic markers for COVID-19. Simultaneously, it is relevant to select biological fluids that can be obtained without invasive procedures. Urine is one such fluid, but its effect on clinical laboratory analysis is not yet fully understood due to lack of study on its composition.MethodsMethods used in this study are as follows: total serum protein analysis; ELISA on moderate and severe COVID-19 patients’ serum and urine; bioinformatic methods: ROC analysis, PCA, SVM.Results and discussionThe levels of antiAPOA1, antiXPNPEP2, antiORP150, antiCUBN, antiHCII, and antiCREB3L3 exhibit gradual fluctuations ranging from moderate to severe in both the serum and urine of COVID-19 patients. However, the diagnostic value of individual anti-protein antibodies is low, in both blood serum and urine. On the contrary, joint detection of these antibodies in patients’ serum significantly increases the diagnostic value as demonstrated by the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machine (SVM). The non-linear regression model achieved an accuracy of 0.833. Furthermore, PCA aided in identifying serum protein markers that have the greatest impact on patient group discrimination. The study revealed that serum serves as a superior analyte for describing protein quantification due to its consistent composition and lack of organic salts and drug residues, which can otherwise affect protein stability.

Objective To investigate the influence of preoperative lipids and glucose on the postoperative recovery of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods Clinical data were collected from 492 patients with KOA who were hospitalized and underwent surgical treatment in Department of Joint Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, from January 2021 to January 2022, including general clinical data and related blood biochemical para-meters in the fasting state before surgery. American Knee Society (AKS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were recorded for the patients at six months after surgery, and WOMAC score 35 was considered poor postoperative recovery; AKS score >70 was consi-dered good postoperative recovery, and AKS score

Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to attenuate increased systemic and gut inflammation that contribute to morbidity and mortality in chronic HIV infection despite potent antiretroviral therapy (ART). The goal of this study is to use preclinical models of chronic treated HIV to determine whether the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory apoA-I mimetic peptides 6F and 4F attenuate systemic and gut inflammation in chronic HIV. We used two humanized murine models of HIV infection and gut explants from 10 uninfected and 10 HIV infected persons on potent ART, to determine the in vivo and ex vivo impact of apoA-I mimetics on systemic and intestinal inflammation in HIV. When compared to HIV infected humanized mice treated with ART alone, mice on oral apoA-I mimetic peptide 6F with ART had consistently reduced plasma and gut tissue cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and chemokines (CX3CL1) that are products of ADAM17 sheddase activity. Oral 6F attenuated gut protein levels of ADAM17 that were increased in HIV-1 infected mice on potent ART compared to uninfected mice. Adding oxidized lipoproteins and endotoxin (LPS) ex vivo to gut explants from HIV infected persons increased levels of ADAM17 in myeloid and intestinal cells, which increased TNF-α and CX3CL1. Both 4F and 6F attenuated these changes. Our preclinical data suggest that apoA-I mimetic peptides provide a novel therapeutic strategy that can target increased protein levels of ADAM17 and its sheddase activity that contribute to intestinal and systemic inflammation in treated HIV. The large repertoire of inflammatory mediators involved in ADAM17 sheddase activity places it as a pivotal orchestrator of several inflammatory pathways associated with morbidity in chronic treated HIV that make it an attractive therapeutic target.

ObjectiveWe investigated whether apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mimetic peptides 4F and 6F can be a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce blood and gut bioactive lipids, proinflammatory effects of endotoxin (LPS) and aberrant activation of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) as instigators of increased risk for cardiometabolic disease in chronic treated HIV.MethodsWe used two humanized murine models of chronic treated HIV infection (n = 109 mice) and gut explants from HIV infected (n = 10) persons to determine whether Tg6F and 4F attenuate in vivo and ex vivo increased blood and gut bioactive lipids (measured by mass spectrometry) and intestinal protein levels of COX-2 (measured by immunoassays) in chronic treated HIV.ResultsIn these models of HIV, when compared to HIV-1 infected mice on antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone, oral Tg6F in combination with ART attenuated increases in plasma and gut bioactive lipids (and particularly COX lipids) and intestinal COX-2. 4F and Tg6F also reduced ex vivo production of COX-2 protein and associated secretion of bioactive lipids in gut explants from HIV-1 infected persons treated with LPS.ConclusionApoA-I mimetics favorably impact the proinflammatory effects of LPS, COX-2 and production of bioactive lipids that collectively drive gut and systemic inflammation in chronic treated HIV. Given prior experimental evidence that the proinflammatory effects of LPS, COX-2 and gut dysfunction contribute to cardiometabolic syndrome in chronic HIV, apoA-I mimetic peptides may be a novel therapy to treat cardiometabolic syndrome in chronic HIV.

Abstract Background The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of serum lipids in recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC) patients received anti‐PD‐1 therapy. Materials and Methods Patients treated with anti‐PD‐1 therapy (monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy) from two clinical trials (CAPTAIN and CAPTAIN‐1st study) were included. Serum lipids were measured at baseline and after two cycles of treatment. We examined the impact of both baseline and post‐treatment lipid levels on objective response rate (ORR), progression‐free survival (PFS), and duration of response (DOR). Results Of 106 patients, 89 patients (84%) were male. The patients' median age was 49 years. An early elevated (after two cycles of treatment) cholesterol (CHO), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), apolipoprotein A‐I (ApoA‐I), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were significantly associated with better ORR. Moreover, early elevated CHO, LDL‐C, and ApoA‐I were also positively correlated with DOR and PFS. Further multivariate analysis showed that only early change in ApoA‐I could independently predict PFS (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.11–4.61; p = 0.034). The median PFS for patients with early elevated and reduced ApoA‐I was 11.43 and 1.89 months, respectively. However, baseline lipids levels do not play a significant role in the prognosis and prediction of patients with anti‐PD‐1 treatment. Conclusion Collectively, an early elevation in ApoA‐I was correlated with better outcomes for anti‐PD‐1 therapy in patients with R/M NPC, suggesting that clinicians should consider the early alteration of ApoA‐I as a useful marker in treating R/M NPC patients with anti‐PD‐1.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of using apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) as a transport form of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene into rat hepatocytes.Material and methods. A culture of isolated rat hepatocytes was used as a model. Apo A-I conjugate with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was obtained by incubation of apo A-I protein with FITC in carbonate buffer pH 9.5 at a ratio of 12.5 μg FITC per 1 mg of protein. Plasmids for pE-GAG transfection with an integrated GFP gene were enriched in the promoter part with cis-elements of the CC(GCC)3-5 type to enhance complex formation with apo A-I. An inverted fluorescence microscope was used for visual analysis of cell fluorescence.Results and discussion. The paper presents evidence of FITC-labeled apo A-I penetration into the cytoplasm and nuclei of rat hepatocytes by receptor-mediated endocytosis. On this basis, it is proposed an attempt to use apo A-I as a means of targeted delivery of plasmid DNA with an integrated GFP gene into the cell. According to the results of fluorescence microscopy, the use of apo A-I as a plasmid DNA transfection agent led to the accumulation of the GFP protein in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. No fluorescent protein was observed in the absence of apo A-I.Conclusions. The result obtained may indicate the delivery of the GFP gene to the nuclear apparatus of the cell, its expression and GFP protein synthesis.

Policosanol supplementation has been reported to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (HDL-C). However, the association between Cuban policosanol supplementation and HDL cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), an important function of HDL, remains unclear. We performed a lipoprotein analysis investigating 32 Japanese healthy participants (placebo, n = 17 or policosanol supplementation for 12 weeks, n = 15) from a randomized Cuban policosanol clinical trial. First, HDL CEC and HDL-related factors were measured before and after policosanol supplementation. Then, through electron microscopy after ultracentrifugation and high-performance liquid chromatography, HDL morphology and subclass were analyzed, respectively. Finally, the effects of policosanol supplementation regarding HDL function, HDL-related factors, and HDL morphology/component were examined. Cuban policosanol considerably increased the HDL CEC and HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) levels. Furthermore, policosanol supplementation led to larger HDL particles, increased cholesterol content in larger HDL particles, and reduced triglyceride content in smaller HDL particles. In participants with high baseline HDL-C levels, the policosanol effects for HDL CEC are observed. HDL CEC fluctuation induced by policosanol was highly associated with HDL-C and ApoA-I changes. In conclusion, for the first time, we demonstrated that policosanol supplementation increased the HDL CEC in healthy participants.

Reconstituted high-density lipoproteins (rHDL) containing each policosanol from Cuba (Raydel®), China (Shaanxi Pioneer), and the United States (Lesstanol®) were synthesized to compare the physiological properties of policosanol depending on sources and origin countries. After synthesis with apolipoproteinA-I (apoA-I) into rHDL, all policosanols bound well with phospholipid and apoA-I to form discoidal rHDL. An rHDL containing Cuban policosanol (rHDL-1) showed the largest rHDL particle size of around 83 ± 3 nm, while rHDL containing Chinese policosanol (rHDL-2) or American policosanol (rHDL-3) showed smaller particles around 63 ± 3 nm and 60 ± 2 nm in diameter, respectively. The rHDL-1 showed the strongest anti-glycation activity to protect the apoA-I degradation of HDL from fructose-mediated glycation: approximately 2.7-times higher ability to suppress glycation and 1.4-times higher protection ability of apoA-I than that of rHDL-2 and rHDL-3. The rHDL-1 showed the highest antioxidant ability to inhibit cupric ion-mediated LDL oxidation in electromobility and the quantification of oxidized species. A microinjection of each rHDL into a zebrafish embryo in the presence of carboxymethyllysine (CML) showed that rHDL-1 displayed the strongest anti-oxidant activity with the highest embryo survivability, whereas rHDL-2 and rHDL-3 showed much weaker protection ability, similar to rHDL alone (rHDL-0). An intraperitoneal injection of CML (250 μg) into adult zebrafish caused acute death and hyperinflammation with an elevation of infiltration of neutrophils and IL-6 production in the liver. On the other hand, a co-injection of rHDL-1 resulted in the highest survivability and the strongest anti-inflammatory ability to suppress IL-6 production with an improvement of the blood lipid profile, such as elevation of HDL-C and lowering of the total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride. In conclusion, Cuban policosanol exhibited the most desirable properties for the in vitro synthesis of rHDL with the stabilization of apoA-I, the largest particle size, anti-glycation against fructation, and antioxidant activities to prevent LDL oxidation. Cuban policosanol in rHDL also exhibited the strongest in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities with the highest survivability in zebrafish embryos and adults via the prevention of hyperinflammation in the presence of CML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Apo A‐I Leu75Pro amyloidosis is a rare systemic hereditary disease, whose hallmark and earliest involvement is testicular impairment, characterized by hypogonadism and macrorchidism; renal and hepatic involvement are the other characteristics. Objective: To evaluate for the first time the prevalence of osteopenia, osteoporosis and vertebral fractures (VFs) in men with this form of amyloidosis affected by hypogonadism and under long‐term testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Materials and methods: Retrospective study on 50 men >50 years (median age 64.5) with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), hormonal, and biochemical data available at least 3 years after the start of TRT. Serum gonadal hormones and bone markers, lumbar and femoral DXA‐scan with morphometric assay for evaluation of VFs were assessed. Results: At 7.5 years from start of TRT, lumbar and/or femoral osteopenia and osteoporosis were found in 54% and 10% of patients, respectively. Of the men who had the morphometric assay performed, five of 34 (14.7%) had VFs. Compared to patients with normal bone mineral density, men with osteopenia and osteoporosis were older, had lower body mass index, higher sex hormone binding globulin and showed more frequently renal involvement. Multiorgan involvement, without different TRT dosage, was associated with lower testosterone levels. Discussion and conclusion: Men with hypogonadism because of Apo A‐I Leu75Pro amyloidosis under long‐term TRT had a high burden of low bone mass (64%) and VFs (almost 15%). Osteopenia‐osteoporosis was more frequently observed in older patients with multi‐organ disease, which might contribute to impair bone health beyond hypogonadism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ failure (OF) largely governs the outcomes and mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP), but there is a lack of optimal prognostic biomarker for OF. This study is designed to investigate whether the serum apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I) level can predict OF in patients with AP. A total of 424 patients with AP were reviewed in the study, and we finally got 228 patients eligible for analysis. Patients were divided into two groups based on serum Apo A-I level. Demographic information and clinical materials were retrospectively collected. The primary outcome was the occurrence of OF. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were conducted to analyze the relationship between Apo A-I and OF. Additionally, we used receiver operating characteristic analysis to clarify the predictive value of serum Apo A-I level for OF and mortality. Ninety-two patients and 136 patients were included in Apo A-I low and non-low groups, respectively. The occurrence of OF was significantly different in the two groups (35.9 vs. 9.6%, p < 0.001). Moreover, serum Apo A-I level markedly decreased across disease severity based on the 2012 Revised Atlanta Classification of AP. The decrease of serum apolipoprotein A-I was an independent risk factor for organ failure (OR: 6.216, 95% CI: 2.610, 14.806, p < 0.001). The area under the curve of serum Apo A-I was 0.828 and 0.889 for OF and mortality of AP, respectively. Serum Apo A-I level in the early stage of the disease has a high predictive value for OF of AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesDespite antiretroviral therapy (ART), there is an unmet need for therapies to mitigate immune activation in HIV infection. The goal of this study is to determine whether the apoA-I mimetics 6F and 4F attenuate macrophage activation in chronic HIV.DesignPreclinical assessment of the in-vivo impact of Tg6F and the ex-vivo impact of apoA-I mimetics on biomarkers of immune activation and gut barrier dysfunction in treated HIV.MethodsWe used two humanized murine models of HIV infection to determine the impact of oral Tg6F with ART (HIV+ART+Tg6F+) on innate immune activation (plasma human sCD14, sCD163) and gut barrier dysfunction [murine I-FABP, endotoxin (LPS), LPS-binding protein (LBP), murine sCD14]. We also used gut explants from 10 uninfected and 10 HIV-infected men on potent ART and no morbidity, to determine the impact of ex-vivo treatment with 4F for 72 h on secretion of sCD14, sCD163, and I-FABP from gut explants.ResultsWhen compared with mice treated with ART alone (HIV+ART+), HIV+ART+Tg6F+ mice attenuated macrophage activation (h-sCD14, h-sCD163), gut barrier dysfunction (m-IFABP, LPS, LBP, and m-sCD14), plasma and gut tissue oxidized lipoproteins. The results were consistent with independent mouse models and ART regimens. Both 4F and 6F attenuated shedding of I-FABP and sCD14 from gut explants from HIV-infected and uninfected participants.ConclusionGiven that gut barrier dysfunction and macrophage activation are contributors to comorbidities like cardiovascular disease in HIV, apoA-I mimetics should be tested as therapy for morbidity in chronic treated HIV.

The aggregation of misfolded proteins into specific ordered aggregates, amyloid fibrils, associated with more than forty human diseases, currently attracts great research attention in biomedical and nanotechnological aspects. These aggregates and their oligomeric intermediates are thought to exert their toxic action predominantly at the level of cell membranes. In addition, membrane lipids were found in many amyloid deposits in vivo suggesting that lipid molecules are able to incorporate into fibril structure affecting their morphology and mechanical properties. However, the biological implications and structural prerequisites of fibril-lipid interactions still remain unclear. In the present study the molecular docking techniques was employed to explore the interactions between the amyloid fibrils and lipids in the model systems containing the fibrillar forms of lysozyme, insulin, Aβ (1-42) peptide and N-terminal (1-83) fragment of apolipoprotein A-I, as a protein component and cholesterol, cardiolipin or phosphatidylcholine as a lipid component. Using the PatchDock web server and BIOVIA Discovery Studio software, the structural peculiarities of fibril-lipid associates were uncovered. The van der Waals and alkyl/π-alkyl interactions were found to prevail in stabilization of all types of fibril-lipid complexes. The analysis of most energetically favorable docking positions revealed a preferable surface location of lipids and partial penetration of acyl chains of cardiolipin and phosphatidylcholine into fibril grooves.

Individuals with features of metabolic syndrome are particularly susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus associated with the severe respiratory disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite considerable attention dedicated to COVID-19, the link between metabolic syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear. Using data from the UK Biobank, we investigated the relationship between severity of COVID-19 and metabolic syndrome-related serum biomarkers measured prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Logistic regression analyses were used to test biomarker levels and biomarker-associated genetic variants with SARS-CoV-2-related outcomes. Among SARS-CoV-2-positive cases and negative controls, a 10 mg/dl increase in serum HDL-cholesterol or apolipoprotein A1 levels was associated with ∼10% reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, after adjustment for age, sex, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Evaluation of known genetic variants for HDL-cholesterol revealed that individuals homozygous for apolipoprotein E4 alleles had ∼2- to 3-fold higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or mortality from COVID-19 compared with apolipoprotein E3 homozygotes, even after adjustment for HDL-cholesterol levels. However, cumulative effects of all evaluated HDL-cholesterol-raising alleles and Mendelian randomization analyses did not reveal association of genetically higher HDL-cholesterol levels with decreased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results implicate serum HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 levels measured prior to SAR-CoV-2 exposure as clinical risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection but do not provide evidence that genetically elevated HDL-cholesterol levels are associated with SAR-CoV-2 infection.

BackgroundLipoproteins at aberrant levels are known to play a role in cardiovascular disease. The metabolite of the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), physically associates with lipids and accumulates in adipose tissue. Little is known about which lipoproteins associate with p,p'-DDE. An association between p,p'-DDE exposure and altered levels of circulating lipids was assessed in a large human cohort using a detailed analysis of lipoprotein content.MethodsPlasma samples were collected from the subset of 75-year old Swedes in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature of Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) cohort who were not prescribed lipid lowering medication (n = 571). p,p'-DDE concentrations in plasma were measured using high-throughput solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Analysis of plasma lipoprotein content was performed with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.ResultsDetectable levels of p,p'-DDE were found in the plasma samples of all subjects. Elevated p,p'-DDE levels were associated with increased concentrations of lipoproteins of all diameters, with the exception of high density lipoprotein (HDL) of diameters between 14.3 nm-10.9 nm. Of the lipoprotein constituents, triglycerides were most uniformly associated with elevated p,p'-DDE across lipoproteins. p,p'-DDE was furthermore associated with apolipoprotein B, but not apolipoprotein A1.ConclusionsThe positive associations observed between each lipoprotein class and elevated p,p'-DDE support previous data suggesting that p,p'-DDE interacts with lipoproteins within plasma. It is speculated that both physio-chemical and biological mechanisms may explain why p,p'-DDE does not uniformly associate with lipids across lipoproteins.

This document explores the phosphorylation of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) by platelet tyrosine kinases. The study identifies several Src family kinases (SFKs) involved in the tyrosine phosphorylation of apoA-I in platelets, specifically at Tyr42. The authors suggest that this phosphorylation may impact apoA-I's role in platelet signaling and lipid binding, but further research is needed to determine the specific kinase responsible and understand the functional implications. The study was conducted ethically and received support from the Open Access Publication Fund of Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of serum lipids in recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC) patients received anti‐PD‐1 therapy. Materials and Methods: Patients treated with anti‐PD‐1 therapy (monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy) from two clinical trials (CAPTAIN and CAPTAIN‐1st study) were included. Serum lipids were measured at baseline and after two cycles of treatment. We examined the impact of both baseline and post‐treatment lipid levels on objective response rate (ORR), progression‐free survival (PFS), and duration of response (DOR). Results: Of 106 patients, 89 patients (84%) were male. The patients' median age was 49 years. An early elevated (after two cycles of treatment) cholesterol (CHO), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), apolipoprotein A‐I (ApoA‐I), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were significantly associated with better ORR. Moreover, early elevated CHO, LDL‐C, and ApoA‐I were also positively correlated with DOR and PFS. Further multivariate analysis showed that only early change in ApoA‐I could independently predict PFS (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.11–4.61; p = 0.034). The median PFS for patients with early elevated and reduced ApoA‐I was 11.43 and 1.89 months, respectively. However, baseline lipids levels do not play a significant role in the prognosis and prediction of patients with anti‐PD‐1 treatment. Conclusion: Collectively, an early elevation in ApoA‐I was correlated with better outcomes for anti‐PD‐1 therapy in patients with R/M NPC, suggesting that clinicians should consider the early alteration of ApoA‐I as a useful marker in treating R/M NPC patients with anti‐PD‐1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), 90% of which is present in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is the main constituent of HDL, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, and has received extensive attention in anti-atherosclerosis. Yet little is known about apoA-I ’s role in peritoneal dialysis. In this study, by analyzing PD patients (n = 81), we found that decreased apoA/HDL-C ratio is significantly associated with rapid decline in peritoneal function. Further studies were performed in animal experiments to determine the ascendancy of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide (D-4F) on peritoneum, we found that D-4F administration reduced peritoneal fibrosis and peritoneal endothelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) induced by high glucose peritoneal dialysate, such as N-cadherin, Fibronectin, Vimentin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression decreased. In mechanism, D-4F can significantly inhibit Smad2/3 phosphorylation, which is the major pathway leading to fibrosis. Furthermore, D-4F treatment inhibited NADPH oxidase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) expression, increased the activity of certain enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Finally, treatment with D-4F inhibits the expression of interleukins-6(IL-6), Interleukin-1β(IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). Taken together, based on the above research evidence, apoAI and its peptide mimic may regulate the oxidative stress, TGF- β1/Smads signaling pathway and inflammatory response to reduce peritoneal fibrosis due to peritoneal dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]