The number of identical kringle IV repeats in apolipoprotein(a) affects its processing and secretion by HepG2 cells.

A variable number of 5.6-kilobase kringle IV repeats in the human apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) gene results in a size polymorphism of the protein and correlates inversely with the plasma levels of the atherogenic lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)). In order to analyze whether this association reflects a direct effect of kringle IV repeat number on Lp(a) plasma concentration, we have studied the expression of recombinant apo(a) (r-apo(a)) isoforms in the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. Following transient transfection of apo(a) cDNA expression plasmids that differed only in the number of kringle IV repeats, we observed a gradual decrease of Lp(a) in the medium of the cells with an increasing number of kringle IV repeats, mimicking the relationship present in humans in vivo. The analysis of apo(a) protein in the lysate and in the medium of cells that were transfected with a plasmid encoding an apo(a) isoform with 22 kringles revealed a predominant intracellular precursor with little secretion of the mature apo(a) protein. In contrast, transfection of a plasmid encoding an isoform with 11 kringles led to effective secretion of the mature peptide into the medium, indicating differential processing rates of apo(a) isoforms in the secretory path way. The intracellular accumulation of an apo(a) precursor in the endoplasmic reticulum was demonstrated by cell fractionation and [35S]Met metabolic labeling/temperature block experiments using HepG2 cells stably transfected with recombinant apo(a). The direct and causal effect of kringle IV repeat number on the expression of recombinant apo(a) in HepG2 cells, and presumably liver cells, provides a novel mechanism for the genetic regulation of the concentration of a protein.

Transgenic rabbits with the integrated human 15-lipoxygenase gene driven by a lysozyme promoter: macrophage-specific expression and variable positional specificity of the transgenic enzyme.

15-Lipoxygenase is expressed in foamy macrophages of atherosclerotic lesions and has been implicated in the oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein during early stages of atherogenesis. To establish an animal model of 15-lipoxygenase overexpression, we created transgenic rabbits that express at high level the human 15-lipoxygenase in monocyte-derived macrophages but not in liver, heart, kidney, lung, or other tissues. The expression level of the enzyme in monocyte-derived macrophages is comparable to that of interleukin 4 (IL4)-treated human monocytes, but more than 20-fold higher than in macrophages of normal rabbits. The transgenic enzyme oxygenates linoleic acid to 13S-hydroperoxy-9, 11 (Z,E)-octadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), and arachidonic acid to a mixture of 12S-hydroperoxy-5, 8, 10, 14 (Z,Z,E,Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid (12S-HETE), and 15S-hydroperoxy-5, 8, 11, 14 (Z,Z,Z,E)-eicosatetraenoic acid (15S-HETE). The 12-HETE/15-HETE ratio varied between 0.3 and 5.4, indicating a remarkable variability in the positional specificity of the transgenic enzyme. Macrophages from normal rabbits consistently produced 12S-HETE as the major oxygenation product. 15-Lipoxygenase-overexpressing rabbits may be used for further mechanistic studies on the implication of lipoxygenase in atherogenesis; they are also an ideal model for testing the in vivo action of 15-lipoxygenase inhibitors.

Ten allelic apolipoprotein[a] 5' flanking fragments exhibit comparable promoter activities in HepG2 cells.

Plasma levels of the atherogenic lipoprotein[a] represent a quantitative genetic trait that is primarily controlled by the polymorphic apolipoprotein[a] locus on chromosome 6q. The more than 1000-fold variation in lipoprotein[a] plasma levels is explained to a large extent by a remarkable size polymorphism of the apolipoprotein[a] gene which is translated into apolipoprotein[a] isoforms and by unidentified sequence variation in apo[a]. In a recent report, sequence variation in a 1.5 kb fragment from the 5' flanking region of the apolipoprotein[a] gene was associated with different promoter activities, which led to the suggestion that transcriptional control of the apolipoprotein[a] gene might contribute significantly to lipoprotein[a] plasma levels. We have used a reporter gene assay to compare the promoter activities of these 1.5 kb fragments which were cloned from ten well-characterized apolipoprotein[a] alleles. These ten allelic apolipoprotein[a] fragments revealed, despite the same sequence variation as previously reported, comparable and relatively weak promoter activities in HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells. Promoter activity for the same fragment in non-liver cells and the identification of a liver cell-specific DNaseI hypersensitive site 3 kb upstream from the ATG start codon suggest that longer fragments must be used in order to analyze the transcriptional regulation of the apolipoprotein[a] gene.

Identification of two functionally distinct lysine-binding sites in kringle 37 and in kringles 32-36 of human apolipoprotein(a).

The well documented association between high plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and cardiovascular disease might be mediated by the lysine binding of apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)), the plasminogen-like, multikringle glycoprotein in Lp(a). We employed a mutational analysis to localize the lysine-binding domains within human apo(a). Recombinant apo(a) (r-apo(a)) with 17 plasminogen kringle IV-like domains, one plasminogen kringle V-like domain, and a protease domain or mutants thereof were expressed in the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. The lysine binding of plasma Lp(a) and r-apo(a) in the culture supernatants of transfected HepG2 cells was analyzed by lysine-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Wild type recombinant Lp(a) (r-Lp(a)) revealed lysine binding in the range observed for human plasma Lp(a). A single accessible lysine binding site in Lp(a) is indicated by a complete loss of lysine binding observed for r-Lp(a) species that contain either a truncated r-apo(a) lacking kringle IV-37, kringle V, and the protease or a point-mutated r-apo(a) with a Trp-4174-->Arg substitution in the putative lysine-binding pocket of kringle IV-37. Evidence is also presented for additional lysine-binding sites within kringles 32-36 of apo(a) that are masked in Lp(a) as indicated by an increased lysine binding for the point mutant (Cys-4057-->Ser), which is unable to assemble into particles. An important role of these lysine-binding site(s) for Lp(a) assembly is suggested by a decreased assembly efficiency for deletion mutants lacking either kringle 32 or kringles 32-35.

Sequence polymorphisms in the apo(a) gene associated with specific levels of Lp(a) in plasma.

Most of the interindividual variations in plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] can be attributed to sequence differences linked to the apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] locus. Plasma levels of Lp(a) tend to be inversely related to the number of kringle 4 (K4)-encoding sequences in the apo(a) gene, but there are several exceptions to this general trend. Other aspects of the apo(a) gene, in addition to the number of K4 repeats, affect plasma levels of Lp(a). To identify sequences in the apo(a) gene that contribute to plasma Lp(a) levels, we characterized the relationship between a length polymorphism [(TTTTA)n] located 1.3 kb 5' of the first exon of the apo(a) gene, the number of K4 repeats in the gene, and the plasma levels of Lp(a). There was significant linkage disequilibrium between the number of TTTTA repeats and the number of K4 repeats. All of the apo(a) alleles with 11 TTTTA repeats contained fewer than 24 K4 repeats and were paradoxically associated with low plasma Lp(a) levels (< or = mg/dl). To determine whether this association was due to the effect of the 11 TTTTA copies on apo(a) gene transcription, we measured the ability of fragments containing 11 or eight TTTTA repeats to promote transcription when introduced into cultured human hepatocarcinoma cells. No difference was found in the transcriptional activity of the two fragments. The TTTTA repeat constitutes the first sequence polymorphism at the apo(a) locus, other than the number of K4 repeats, which is associated with plasma concentrations of Lp(a).

Reconstruction of blood flow distribution in the rat kidney during postischemic renal failure.

Inner medullary blood flow has been found to remain nearly unchanged during postischemic renal failure, despite a severely disturbed perfusion in the outer medulla. In order to elucidate this discrepancy, rats were subjected to 1 h left renal artery occlusion and 1 h reflow. The blood plasma was then labeled by dye-conjugated globulin for 1 min. The in vivo indicator distribution was histologically analyzed, especially in the medullary vascular bundles. The filling there was observed along a section plane positioned through the inner stripe along the long and the short axis of the organ. Vessels centrally located within the bundles were more labeled than those in the periphery of the bundles. In addition, the degree of filling on the whole was almost twice as high in the tissue near the renal sinus as in the central area. At the same time, filling defects in the renal papilla were restricted mostly to the center of that tissue. The observations support the assumption that differences in blood flow obstruction exist within each bundle. They also show that perfusion defects of the outer medulla occur more readily in the center of the organ, thus allowing blood to enter the inner medulla via vascular bundles located marginally, adjacent to the renal sinus of the kidney.

Increased accumulation of plasma albumin in the extracellular space of the heart during hypoxia.

The question which was investigated in this study is whether an augmented capillary protein permeability occurs during hypoxia, an effect which might worsen the supply conditions of the tissue during O2 deficiency. Anaesthetized and thoracotomized rats and mice received an i.v. injection of lissamine-rhodamine B200 (RB200)-conjugated albumin and were then ventilated with a gas mixture of 11 vol % O2 for 3 min. At the end of this period the heart was rapidly frozen and histological sections were subsequently scanned for changes in the distribution of labelled albumin. In the control hearts 4.6% (rats) and 4.5% (mice) of the microscopic fields showed penetration of labelled albumin into the extracellular space of the heart. Hypoxia, however, proved to induce an increased shift of plasma albumin into this space in localized areas with signs of increases in the extracellular volume in these areas. The changes in distribution were observed in 26.0 and 35.8% of fields scanned in the histological preparations of the hearts of rats and mice, respectively. Affected areas were found to be randomly distributed through all layers of the heart. The results show that localized accumulation of plasma albumin and edema formation is induced in the extracellular space of the myocardium by even moderate degrees of respiratory hypoxia.

Effects of diltiazem and allopurinol in postischemic microcirculatory changes in the rat kidney.

The influence of diltiazem and/or allopurinol on kidney microcirculation was studied in anaesthetized rats, which were subjected to 60 min unilateral renal ischemia followed by 60 min reflow. In histological sections capillary plasma flow patterns were determined based on the distribution of two different fluorochrome-labelled globulins administered i.v.. In the outer medulla (OM) of untreated postischemic kidneys labelling of the capillary network was greatly diminished. Tissue areas occupied by red blood cells increased 4-6 fold. During reperfusion massive penetration of red cells in the urine was demonstrated by the occurrence of hemoglobin in the urine. Maintenance of the rats on allopurinol-saturated drinking water for six days prior to the experiment (daily intake approximately 50 mg allopurinol/kg body wt) combined with the i.v. administration of diltiazem during the pre- and postischemic period (16 mg/kg body wt) resulted in an almost complete normalization of capillary plasma flow patterns in the OM. In this region tissue areas occupied by red blood cells were much lesser in extent than in the untreated controls. Furthermore, urine hemoglobin content after the combined drug regimen was largely decreased when compared to the untreated ischemic group. Effects of the treatment with either of the drugs alone were qualitatively similar, but significantly less pronounced. In conclusion, a synergistic effect of diltiazem and allopurinol in improving postischemic renal microcirculation is clearly evident, whereas no improvement in kidney function was demonstrable. This supports the hypothesis that disturbed microcirculation is not a prerequisite for the generation of the renal functional deterioration in the clamp-induced ischemia model in the rat.