Chylomicrons lipids

The livers and intestines of animals are the primary sources of circulating lipids. Chylomicrons carry triacylglycerol and cholesterol esters from the intestines to other tissues, and VLDLs carry lipid from liver, as shown in Figure 25.38. At... 

B. The liver and intestine are the main sonrces of circnlating lipids. Chylomicrons carry triacylglycerides and cholesterol esters from the intestine to other target tissues. VLDLs carry lipids from the liver into circulation. Lipoproteins are a mix of lipids and specific proteins and these complexes are classified based on their lipid/protein ratio. Lipoprotein lipases degrade the triacylglycerides in the chylomicrons and VLDLs with a concurrent release of apoproteins. This is a gradual process which converts the VLDLs into IDLs and then LDLs. 

Chylomicrons Lipoprotein particles produced in the intestine to package and secrete dietary lipids. Chylomicrons are secreted into the mesenteric lymph. 

HDL and VLDL are assembled primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum of the liver (with smaller amounts produced in the intestine), whereas chylomicrons form in the intestine. LDL is not synthesized directly, but is made from VLDL. LDL appears to be the major circulatory complex for cholesterol and cholesterol esters. The primary task of chylomicrons is to transport triacylglycerols. Despite all this, it is extremely important to note that each of these lipoprotein classes contains some of each type of lipid. The relative amounts of HDL and LDL are important in the disposition of cholesterol in the body and in the development of arterial plaques (Figure 25.36). The structures of the various... 

The nonpolar lipid core consists of mainly triacylglycerol and cholesteryl ester and is surrounded by a single surface layer of amphipathic phospholipid and cholesterol molecules (Figure 25-1). These are oriented so that their polar groups face outward to the aqueous medium, as in the cell membrane (Chapter 14). The protein moiety of a lipoprotein is known as an apo-lipoprotein or apoprotein, constituting nearly 70% of some HDL and as litde as 1% of chylomicrons. Some apolipoproteins are integral and cannot be removed, whereas others are free to transfer to other hpoproteins. 

By definition, chylomicrons are found in chyle formed only by the lymphatic system draining the intestine. They are responsible for the transport of all dietary lipids into the circulation. Small quantities of VLDL... 

There are striking similarities in the mechanisms of formation of chylomicrons by intestinal cells and of VLDL by hepatic parenchymal cells (Figure 25—2), perhaps because—apart from the mammary gland—the intestine and liver are the only tissues from which particulate lipid is secreted. Newly secreted or nascent chylomicrons and VLDL contain only a small amount of apolipoproteins C and E, and the frill complement is acquired from HDL in the circulation (Figures 25—3 and 25-4). Apo B is essential for chylomicron and VLDL formation. In abetalipoproteinemia (a rare disease), lipoproteins containing apo B are not formed and lipid droplets accumulate in the intestine and liver. 

Figure 25-3. Metabolic fate of chylomicrons. (A, apolipoprotein A B-48, apolipoprotein B-48 , apolipoprotein C E, apolipoprotein E HDL, high-density lipoprotein TG, triacylgiycerol C, cholesterol and cholesteryl ester P, phospholipid HL, hepatic lipase LRP, LDL receptor-reiated protein.) Only the predominant lipids are shown.

Four major groups of lipoproteins are recognized Chylomicrons transport lipids resulting from digestion and absorption. Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) transport triacylglycerol from the liver. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) deliver cholesterol to the tissues, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) remove cholesterol from the tissues in the process known as reverse cholesterol transport. 

Hypolipoproteinemias Abetaiipoproteinemia No chylomicrons, VLDL, or LDL are formed because of defect in the loading of apo B with lipid. Rare blood acylglycerols low intestine and liver accumulate acylglycerols. Intestinal malabsorption. Early death avoidable by administration of large doses of fat-soluble vitamins, particularly vitamin E. 

Classically, to measure absolute absorption the plasma area imder the curve from an intravenous dose would be compared to that caused by the feeding of an oral dose. However, the carotenoids are lipid-soluble and are normally incorporated in chylomicrons synthesised in the enterocytes, a situation that cannot be replicated and applied to studies in humans because an intravenous preparation that would behave naturally is not possible. 

The major lipid-soluble antioxidant primarily associated with lipid membranes is a-tocopherol (vitamin E). Circulating a-tocopherol is carried by chylomicrons, LDL and HDL and also has extracellular antioxidant capacities. As a chain-breaking antioxidant, it short circuits the propagation phase of lipid peroxidation because the peroxyl radical will react with a-tocopherol more rapidly than a polyunsaturated ffitty acid (Burton and Traber, 1990). The resulting a-tocopheryl radical reacts with a second peroxyl radical to form an inactive, nonradical complex. In vitro, ascorbate regenerates the tocopheryl radical into its native non-radical form (Burton and Traber, 1990). 

It was found in animal and clinical studies that lipid microspheres accumulated particularly in arteriosclerotic and damaged vessel walls. Earlier studies (16,17) of lipid emulsions demonstrated also that lipid microspheres had an affinity to vascular walls, including capillaries, like chylomicrons. Shaw et al. reported that they had... 

Lipoproteins. A lipoprotein is an endogenous macromolecule consisting of an inner apolar core of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipid embedded with cholesterol and apoproteins. The functions of lipoproteins are to transport lipids and to mediate lipid metabolism. There are four main types of lipoproteins (classified based on their flotation rates in salt solutions) chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). These differ in size, molecular weight, and density and have different lipid, protein, and apoprotein compositions (Table 11). The apoproteins are important determinants in the metabolism of lipoproteins—they serve as ligands for lipoprotein receptors and as mediators in lipoproteins interconversion by enzymes. 

Chylomicrons leave the absorptive cell by way of exocytosis. Because they are unable to cross the basement membrane of the blood capillaries, the chylomicrons enter the lacteals, which are part of the lymphatic system. The vessels of the lymphatic system converge to form the thoracic duct that drains into the venous system near the heart. Therefore, unlike products of carbohydrate and protein digestion that are transported directly to the liver by way of the hepatic portal vein, absorbed lipids are diluted in the blood... 

MTP is responsible for the transfer of TGs and cholesteryl esters from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to lipoprotein particles (VLDL in hepatocytes in the liver and chylomicrons in endocytes in the intestine) for secretion [52]. It is a heterodimer consisting of a unique large subunit essential for lipid transfer encoded by the mttp gene and a smaller subunit, the ubiquitous ER enzyme protein disulfide isomerase [53]. 

Primary or genetic lipoprotein disorders are classified into six categories for the phenotypic description of dyslipidemia. The types and corresponding lipoprotein elevations include the following I (chylomicrons), Ha (LDL), lib (LDL + very low density lipoprotein, or VLDL), III (intermediate-density lipoprotein), IV (VLDL), and V (VLDL + chylomicrons). Secondary forms of hyperlipidemia also exist, and several drug classes may elevate lipid levels... 

Lipid measurements should be obtained in the fasted state to minimize interference from chylomicrons. Monitoring is needed every few months during dosage titration. Once the patient is stable, monitoring at intervals of 6 months to 1 year is sufficient. 

Chylomicrons are assembled from dietary triglyceride (containing predominantly the longer-chain fatty adds) and cholesterol esters by intestinal epithelial cells. The core lipid is surrounded by phospholipids similar to those found in cell membranes, which increase the solubility of chylomicrons in lymph and blood. ApoB-48 is attached and required for release from the epithelial cells into the lymphatics. 

The best-known effect of APOE is the regulation of lipid metabolism (see Fig. 10.13). APOE is a constituent of TG-rich chylomicrons, VLDL particles and their remnants, and a subclass of HDL. In addition to its role in the transport of cholesterol and the metabolism of lipoprotein particles, APOE can be involved in many other physiological and pathological processes, including immunoregu-lation, nerve regeneration, activation of lipolytic enzymes (hepatic lipase, lipoprotein lipase, lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase), ligand for several cell receptors, neuronal homeostasis, and tissue repair (488,490). APOE is essential... 

Deficiency of vitamin E is rare it can occur from abnormalities in lipid absorption as well as dietary deficiency. Its deficiency affects the muscular system, causing dystrophy and paralysis and, if the heart is affected, death by myocardial failure. This is probably caused by demyelin-ation of axons due to oxidative damage. Vitamin E is incorporated into chylomicrons within the enterocyte, so that its uptake into cells requires the activity of lipoprotein lipase. 

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