High-density lipoproteins secretion

In the enterocyte, provitamin A carotenoids are immediately converted to vitamin A esters. Carotenoids, vitamin A esters, and other lipophilic compounds are packaged into chylomicrons, which are secreted into lymph and then into the bloodstream. Chylomicrons are attacked by endothelial lipoprotein lipases in the bloodstream, leading to chylomicron remnants, which are taken up by the liver (van den Berg and others 2000). Carotenoids are exported from liver to various tissues by lipoproteins. Carotenes (such as (3-carotene and lycopene) are transported by low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), whereas xanthophylls (such as lutein, zeax-anthin, and (3-cryptoxanthin) are transported by high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and LDL (Furr and Clark 1997). 

In adult brain most cholesterol synthesis occurs in astrocytes. Apoprotein E (apoE) is the major apolipopro-tein of the CNS and it is secreted by astrocytes. In astrocyte cultures apoE appears in the media as cholesterol-rich particles of a size similar to peripheral HDL (5-12 nm) (Fig. 2-7). The ATP-dependent transporter ABCA1, expressed by both astrocytes and neurons, promotes the formation of the apoE-stabilized high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-sized particles from astrocytic cholesterol. 

Figure 22.10 Reverse cholesterol transfer. High density lipoprotein (HDL) collects cholesterol from cells in various tissues/ organs the complex is then transported in the blood to the liver where it binds to a receptor on the hepatocyte, is internalised and the cholesterolis released into the hepatocyte. This increases the concentration in the liver cells which then decreases the synthesis of cholesterol by inhibition of the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis, HMG-CoA synthase. The cholesterol is also secreted into the bile or converted to bile acids which are also secreted into the bile, some of which is lost in the faeces (Chapter A).

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by tissue resistance to the action of insulin combined with a relative deficiency in insulin secretion. A given individual may have more resistance or more beta-cell deficiency, and the abnormalities may be mild or severe. Although insulin is produced by the beta cells in these patients, it is inadequate to overcome the resistance, and the blood glucose rises. The impaired insulin action also affects fat metabolism, resulting in increased free fatty acid flux and triglyceride levels and reciprocally low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). 

Fig. 5.2.1 The major metabolic pathways of the lipoprotein metabolism are shown. Chylomicrons (Chylo) are secreted from the intestine and are metabolized by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) before the remnants are taken up by the liver. The liver secretes very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) to distribute lipids to the periphery. These VLDL are hydrolyzed by LPL and hepatic lipase (HL) to result in intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), respectively, which then is cleared from the blood by the LDL receptor (LDLR). The liver and the intestine secrete apolipoprotein AI, which forms pre-jS-high-density lipoproteins (pre-jl-HDL) in blood. These pre-/ -HDL accept phospholipids and cholesterol from hepatic and peripheral cells through the activity of the ATP binding cassette transporter Al. Subsequent cholesterol esterification by lecithinxholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and transfer of phospholipids by phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) transform the nascent discoidal high-density lipoproteins (HDL disc) into a spherical particle and increase the size to HDL2. For the elimination of cholesterol from HDL, two possible pathways exist (1) direct hepatic uptake of lipids through scavenger receptor B1 (SR-BI) and HL, and (2) cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CfiTP)-mediated transfer of cholesterol-esters from HDL2 to chylomicrons, and VLDL and hepatic uptake of the lipids via the LDLR pathway...

H3. Hamilton, R. L., Hepatic secretion and metabolism of high density lipoproteins. In Disturbances in Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism (J. M. Dietschy, A. M. Gotto, Jr., and J. A. Ontko, eds.), pp. 155-171. Clinical Physiology Series. American Physiological Society, Washington, D.C., 1978. 

H27. Hoffman, J. S., and Benditt, E. P., Secretion of serum amyloid protein and assembly of serum amyloid protein-rich high density lipoprotein in primary mouse hepatocyte culture. J. Biol. Chem. 257, 10518-10522 (1982). 

PONl is a member of a family of proteins that also includes PON2 and PON3, the genes of which are clustered in tandem on the long arms of human chromosome 7 (q21.22). PONl is synthesized primarily in the liver and a portion is secreted into the plasma, where it is associated with high density lipoproteins (HDL) (Sorenson et al, 1999 Deakin et al, 2002). PONl, which received its name from its ability... 

James, R.W., Deakin, S.P. (2004). The importance of high-density lipoproteins for paraoxonase-1 secretion, stability, and activity. Free Rad. Biol. Med. 37 1986-94. 

Cholesterol and triacylglycerols are transported in body fluids in the form of lipoprotein particles. Each particle consists of a core of hydrophobic lipids surrounded by a shell of more polar lipids and apoproteins. The protein components of these macromolecular aggregates have two roles they solubilize hydrophobic lipids and contain cell-targeting signals. Lipoprotein particles are classified according to increasing density (Table 26.1) chylomicrons, chylomicron remnants, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Ten principal apoproteins have been isolated and characterized. They are synthesized and secreted by the liver and the intestine. 

Lipoproteins are assembled in two organs, the small intestine and the liver. The lipoproteins assembled in the intestine contain the lipids assimilated from the diet. These lipoproteins, called chylomicrons, leave the enterocyte and enter the bloodstream via the Lymphatic system. The lipoproteins assembled in the liver contain lipids originating from the bloodstream and from de novo synthesis in the liver. The term de novo simply means "newly made from simple components" as opposed to "acquired from the diet" or "recycled from preexisting complex components." These lipoproteins, called very-low-dcnslty lipoproteins (VLDLs), are secreted from the liver into the bloodstream. The liver also synthesizes and secretes other Lipoproteins called high-density Lipoproteins (HDLs), which interact with the chylomicrons and VLDLs in the bloodstream and promote their maturation and function. The data in Table 6-4 show that chylomicrons contain a small proportion of protein, whereas HDLs have a relatively high protein content. Of greater interest is the identity and function of the proteins that constitute these particles. These proteins confer specific properties to lipoprotein particles, as detailed later in this chapter. 

Hepatic lipase is involved in the metabolism of high-density lipoproteins and intermediate density lipoproteins (IDLs), converting the HDL2 fraction to HDL3 and generating LDLs from IDLs. The enzyme appears to have broad specificity it hydrolyzes tri-, di-, and mono-acylglycerols, acyl-CoA thioesters, and even phospholipids. hHL is secreted by the liver parenchymal cells and does not require any cofactors for its activity. 

Lipoproteins are often called pseudomicellar because their outer shell is in part composed of amphipathic phospholipid molecules. Unlike simple micelles, lipoproteins contain apolipoproteins, or apoproteins, in their outer shell and a hydrophobic core of triacylglycerol and cholesteryl esters. Unesterified, or free, cholesterol, which contains a polar group, can be found as a surface component and in the region between the core and surface (Figure 20-1). Most lipoproteins are spherical. However, newly secreted high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) from the liver or intestine are discoidal and require the action of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in plasma to expand their core of neutral lipid and become spherical. The hydrophobic core of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) molecule may contain two concentric layers one of triacylglycerol and another of cholesteryl ester. 

Niacin is a vitamin that is used in high doses to treat hypercholesterolemia. Niacin acts to decrease VLDL and LDL plasma levels. Its mechanism of action is not clearly nnderstood but probably involves inhibition of VLDL secretion, which in tnm decreases the production of LDL. Niacin inhibits the release of free fatty acids from adipose tissue which leads to a decrease of free fatty acids entering the liver and decreased VLDL synthesis in the liver. This decreases the availability of VLDL for conversion to LDL (containing cholesterol esters). Niacin also increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (the good cholesterol ) by an nnknown mechanism. 

The newly synthesized chylomicrons are secreted into the lymph and enter the bloodstream via the thoracic duct. In the bloodstream, the chylomicron particles obtain proteins from high-density lipoproteins (HDL), including apoC-II and apoE, which are important for the function of the chylomicron (Ligure 35-1). 

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