Cancer and Covid-19: Collectively catastrophic.

The Covid-19 pandemic has spread rapidly across the globe, resulting in more than 3 million deaths worldwide. The symptoms of Covid-19 are usually mild and non-specific, however in some cases patients may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and systemic inflammation. Individuals with inflammatory or immunocompromising illnesses, such as cancer, are more susceptible to develop ARDS and have higher rates of mortality. This is mediated through an initial hyperstimulated immune response which results in elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a subsequent cytokine storm. This potentiates positive feedback loops which are unable to be balanced by anti-inflammatory mediators. Therefore, elevated levels of IL-1ß, as a result of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, as well as IL-6 and TNF-α amongst many others, contribute to the progression of various cancer types. Furthermore, Covid-19 progression is associated with the depletion of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, B cell and natural killer cell numbers. Collectively, a Covid-19-dependent pro-inflammatory profile and immune suppression promotes the optimal microenvironment for tumourigenesis, initiation and immune evasion of malignant cells, tumour progression and metastasis as well as cancer recurrence. There are, however, therapeutic windows of opportunity that may combat both Covid-19 and cancer to improve patient outcomes.

Molecular regulation of autophagy in a pro-inflammatory tumour microenvironment: New insight into the role of serum amyloid A.

Chronic inflammation, systemic or local, plays a vital role in tumour progression and metastasis. Dysregulation of key physiological processes such as autophagy elicit unfavourable immune responses to induce chronic inflammation. Cytokines, growth factors and acute phase proteins present in the tumour microenvironment regulate inflammatory responses and alter crosstalk between various signalling pathways involved in the progression of cancer. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a key acute phase protein secreted by the liver during the acute phase response (APR) following infection or injury. However, cancer and cancer-associated cells produce SAA, which when present in high levels in the tumour microenvironment contributes to cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. SAA can activate several signalling pathways such as the PI3K and MAPK pathways, which are also known modulators of the intracellular degradation process, autophagy. Autophagy can be regarded as having a double edged sword effect in cancer. Its dysregulation can induce malignant transformation through metabolic stress which manifests as oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and DNA damage. On the other hand, autophagy can promote cancer survival during metabolic stress, hypoxia and senescence. Autophagy has been utilised to promote the efficiency of chemotherapeutic agents and can either be inhibited or induced to improve treatment outcomes. This review aims to address the known mechanisms that regulate autophagy as well as illustrating the role of SAA in modulating these pathways and its clinical implications for cancer therapy.

Long-term efficacy and safety of ustekinumab for Crohn's disease through the second year of therapy.

BACKGROUND: In Phase 3 studies of ustekinumab, a fully human monoclonal IL-12/23p40 antibody approved for moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease, patients entered a long-term extension after completing 8 weeks of induction and 44 weeks of maintenance treatment. Efficacy through 92 weeks and safety through 96 weeks of IM-UNITI maintenance are reported. METHODS: UNITI-1 (TNF-antagonist failures) and UNITI-2 (conventional therapy failures) patients (N = 1281) entered IM-UNITI, including 397 ustekinumab intravenous induction responders randomised to subcutaneous ustekinumab 90 mg every 12 weeks, every 8 weeks, or placebo and 884 nonrandomised patients. Dose-adjustment to 90 mg every 8 weeks occurred in patients randomised to 90 mg every 12 weeks and placebo patients with loss of response (Weeks 8-32). All Week 44 completers could enter the long-term extension without further dose adjustment. Placebo patients discontinued following study unblinding. RESULTS: A total of 718 patients (all treated) entered the long-term extension (298 randomised and 420 not randomised). Overall, 86.5% (621/718) completed Week 96. The proportions of randomised patients in clinical remission were generally maintained from Week 44 through 92 in ustekinumab 90 mg every 12 weeks (77.4% to 72.6%), every 8 weeks (84.1% to 74.4%), and prior dose adjustment groups (63.4% to 53.5%). At Week 92, the proportions of patients in clinical remission were similar in the ustekinumab 90 mg every 12 weeks and every 8 weeks groups and lower in patients with prior dose adjustment. Proportions of patients in clinical remission at Week 92 for all treated every 8 weeks (64.4%) and every 12 weeks (64.3%) groups were lower than randomised every 8 weeks (74.4%) and every 12 weeks (72.6%) groups, but similarly maintained. Safety events (per hundred patient-years) were similar among all placebo and ustekinumab patients (Week 0-96), including adverse events (484.39 vs 447.76), serious adverse events (19.24 vs 18.82), and serious infections (4.09 vs 4.02). No dose effect was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous ustekinumab maintained clinical response and remission through Week 92. No new safety signals were observed. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01369355.

Signature biomarkers in Crohn's disease: toward a molecular classification.

In an effort to develop a molecular classification scheme for Crohn's disease (CD), mucosal biopsies from 69 CD patients and 28 normal controls were analyzed for expression of the RelA subunit of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, A20 (a negative regulator of NF-kappaB), polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin (IL)-8. Principal component analysis was used to classify individuals into three subsets based on patterns of biomarker expression. Set 1 included normal subjects and CD patients with mild disease and good responses to therapy, thus defining "normal" biomarker expression. CD patients in set 2, characterized by low expression of all five biomarkers, had moderate to severe disease and poor responses to immunosuppressive and anti-TNF therapy. Patients in set 3, characterized by low expression of RelA, A20, and pIgR, normal TNF and elevated IL-8, had acute inflammation that responded well to therapy. Classification of CD patients by these biomarkers may predict disease behavior and responses to therapy.

Defective macrophage function in neonates and its impact on unresponsiveness of neonates to polysaccharide antigens.

Neonates do not respond to thymus-independent (TI) antigens (Ag), making them vulnerable to infection with encapsulated bacteria. The antibody (Ab) response of adult and neonatal B cells to TI Ag requires certain cytokines, which are provided by T cells or macrophages (MPhi). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) failed to induce neonatal MPhi to produce interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA and to secrete IL-1beta, IL-12, and TNF-alpha. However, LPS induced neonates to secrete some IL-6 and three- to fivefold more IL-10 than adults. Accordingly, adding adult but not neonatal MPhi could restore the response of purified adult B cells to trinitrophenol (TNP)-LPS, a TI Ag. Increased IL-10 is causally related to decreased IL-1beta and IL-6 production, as IL-10(-/-) neonatal MPhi responded to LPS by secreting more IL-1beta and IL-6 than wild-type (WT) neonatal MPhi. When cultures were supplemented with a neutralizing Ab to IL-10, WT neonatal MPhi secreted increased amounts of IL-6 and allowed neonatal MPhi to promote adult B cells to mount an Ab response against TNP-LPS. Thus, neonates do not respond to TI Ag as a result of the inability of neonatal MPhi to secrete cytokines, such as IL-1beta and IL-6, probably as a result of an excess production of IL-10. This dysregulated cytokine secretion by neonatal MPhi may be a result of a reduction in expression of Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) and TLR-4 and CD14.

CD36 does not play a direct role in HDL or LDL metabolism.

CD36 and scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI) are both class B scavenger receptors that recognize a broad variety of ligands, including oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), HDL, anionic phospholipids, and apoptotic cells. In this study we investigated the role of mouse CD36 (mCD36) as a physiological lipoprotein receptor. We compared the association of various lipoprotein particles with mCD36 and mSR-BI expressed in COS cells by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. mCD36 bound human oxLDL and mouse HDL with high affinity. Human LDL bound poorly to mCD36, indicating that mCD36 is unlikely to play a significant role in LDL metabolism. The ability of mCD36 to mediate the selective uptake of cholesteryl esters (CE) from receptor-bound HDL was assessed. In comparison with mSR-BI, mCD36 inefficiently mediated the selective uptake of CE. Hepatic overexpression of mCD36 in C57BL/6 mice by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer did not result in significant alterations in plasma LDL and HDL levels. We conclude that mCD36, while able to bind HDL with high affinity, does not contribute significantly to HDL or LDL metabolism.

The green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate blocks nuclear factor-kappa B activation by inhibiting I kappa B kinase activity in the intestinal epithelial cell line IEC-6.

The I kappa B kinase complex (IKK) mediates activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B). We previously showed that green tea polyphenols inhibited endotoxin-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) production by blocking NF-kappa B activation. In this study, we evaluated whether green tea polyphenols inhibit NF-kappa B by blocking IKK activity. We assessed IKK activity by detecting changes in phosphorylation of an I kappa B alpha-glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. IEC-6 cells pretreated with an extract of green tea polyphenols (GrTPs; 0--0.4 mg/ml) had diminished TNF alpha-induced IKK and NF-kappa B activity. Of the various GrTPs, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was the most potent inhibitor. We next examined whether EGCG inhibited activated IKK. In cytosolic extracts of TNF alpha-stimulated cells, EGCG inhibited phosphorylation of I kappa B alpha-GST (IC(50) > 18 microM) consistent with inhibition of IKK activity. Using other polyphenols, we showed that the gallate group was essential for inhibition, and antioxidants were ineffective in blocking activated IKK. Importantly, EGCG decreased IKK activity in cytosolic extracts of NIK transiently transfected cells. This latter finding showed that our findings were not related to nonspecific kinase activity. In conclusion, EGCG is an effective inhibitor of IKK activity. This may explain, at least in part, some of the reported anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of green tea.

Inhibition of caspases in vivo protects the rat liver against alcohol-induced sensitization to bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of liver sensitization by alcohol to Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) remain elusive. The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to test the hypothesis that alcohol-enhanced liver apoptosis may be a sensitizing mechanism for LPS and (2) to further characterize the liver apoptotic response to alcohol. METHODS: Rats were fed a high-fat, alcohol-containing liquid diet for 14 weeks, treated with LPS (1.0 mg/kg of body weight, intravenously) or saline, followed by injection of a pan-caspase inhibitor IDN1965; N-[(1,3-dimethylindole-2-carbonyl)-valinyl]-3-amino-4-oxo-5-fluoropentanoic acid; 10 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneally or vehicle, and killed. The following parameters were assessed: plasma aspartate: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase activity (AST); liver histology and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) response; caspase-3, -8, and -9 activity; and mRNA and protein expression for two apoptosis-signaling molecules: Fas receptor and Fas ligand; and three apoptosis adaptors: Bax, Bcl-XL, and Bcl-2. RESULTS: Alcohol-feeding-induced liver steatosis, slightly increased caspases' activity, the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei, and facilitated the LPS necrotic effect without affecting mRNA expression of apoptosis signals and adaptors. LPS induced a significant increase in AST and the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei, both effects being more pronounced in alcohol-treated rats. LPS produced hepatic necrosis only in alcohol-treated rats. LPS effects were associated with up-regulation of mRNA expression for both apoptosis adaptors and signaling molecules. IDN1965 administration 3 hr after LPS injection strongly inhibited caspases' activity, particularly that of caspase-3. IDN1965 also abolished the increase in TUNEL-positive nuclei, reversed the effect of LPS on plasma AST in alcohol-treated rats, and prevented LPS-induced necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Alcohol-enhanced liver apoptosis may not involve regulatory steps at the transcriptional level. LPS-induced liver apoptosis seems to involve transcriptional regulation of several apoptosis adaptors. Therefore, alcohol and LPS may enhance liver apoptosis through different mechanisms. (2) Alcohol-enhanced liver apoptosis precedes and may facilitate the hepatic effects of LPS. LPS superimposed on alcohol further elevates the rate of apoptosis in the liver. This may exceed the phagocytosing capacity of the liver so that all the apoptotic cells are not phagocytosed, but rather die of necrosis.

Increased serum amyloid a levels reflect colitis severity and precede amyloid formation in IL-2 knockout mice.

The lack of sensitive and relatively non-invasive measures has hampered monitoring the clinical course of spontaneously developing colitis in IL-2-deficient (-/-) mice. We selected (i) to study the correlation of the acute phase plasma proteins serum amyloid A (SAA) and serum amyloid P component (SAP) levels with colonic disease and (ii) to characterize the amyloidosis in the IL-2(-/-)animals. IL-2(-/-)mice exhibited increasing severity of gross intestinal inflammation with age, confined to the distal colon. Histologically, the colonic disease score increased serially in IL-2(-/-)animals. Wild-type mice showed no activity, while 16-week-old IL-2(+/-)animals had minimal colitis with small ulcers and lamina propria inflammatory infiltrate. Periportal hepatitis was present and positive Congo red staining indicated amyloidosis of the liver and spleen in 16 week IL-2(-/-)mice. SAA immunostaining in the liver and spleen was increased in the 8 week and 16 week IL-2(-/-)and 16 week IL-2(+/-)animals indicating AA amyloid deposits. Plasma SAA and SAP levels were markedly elevated, and generally preceded the onset of colitis and reflected its severity. Northern analysis showed markedly increased SAA expression in the liver and intestine of IL-2(-/-)and intestine of IL-2(+/-)16-week-old animals. Increased intestinal expression of SAA3 (lamina propria macrophages) indicates local inflammation in IL-2(+/-)animals at 16 weeks. Treatment of 3-week-old animals with systemic IL-2 or IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) delayed inflammation, postponed the increase in SAA levels and minimized disease onset. These results further demonstrate that IL-2 plays a significant role in normal immune responses in the body and that plasma SAA levels both reflect colonic disease severity and may indicate subclinical disease in both IL-2(-/-)and IL-2(+/-)mice. Furthermore. The mechanism of IL-2-deficient induced colitis appears to be mediated in part through the increase in IL-1. In addition, the IL-2(-/-)mouse of spontaneous enterocolitis may provide a unique system for studying spontaneously developing AA amyloidosis.

Class A type II scavenger receptor mediates silica-induced apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cell line.

Macrophage scavenger receptors are known to bind endotoxins, oxidized low-density lipoproteins (Ox-LDL), and other proteins with clustered negative charges. Recent evidence indicates some particulates may also bind to the scavenger receptor and initiate apoptosis. In this study, chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stabily transfected with the murine class A type II scavenger receptor (SR-A II) were exposed to crystalline silica to examine the role of this receptor in apoptosis. In a 24-h culture, silica (250 microg/ml) induced significant cell injury (necrosis and apoptosis) in transfected cells (MSR II) but not in the control cells (KA-7). This effect was specific to silica, as a control particle titanium dioxide had no cytotoxic effects on the MSR II cells at equal particle mass concentrations. Furthermore, silica-induced apoptosis in the MSR II cells could be eliminated by preincubating the cells with SR-A II antagonists: polyinosinic acid or maleylated bovine serum albumin. This study further supports the hypothesis that the SR-A II is directly involved with silica toxicity and that certain scavenger receptor ligands may have an important role in regulating macrophage apoptosis.

Macrophage scavenger receptors and foam cell formation.

Scavenger receptors bind and internalize modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Because the expression of scavenger receptors is not down-regulated by cholesterol, macrophages (Mphi) expressing scavenger receptors can internalize substantial quantities of cholesteryl ester from oxidized LDL and HDL, leading to foam cell formation. Mphi express several different classes of the growing scavenger receptor family on their cell surface and their relative contribution to Mphi cholesterol physiology and atherogenesis is the subject of intense investigation. We focus on the potential role of two scavenger receptors, macrosialin and SR-BI/II in Mphi cholesterol metabolism. Macrosialin is a predominantly Mphi-specific oxidized LDL-binding protein and an atherogenic diet markedly up-regulates its hepatic expression in atherosclerosis-susceptible and atherosclerosis-resistant mouse strains. The HDL receptor, SR-BI and its splicing variant SR-BII, colocalize with caveolin in caveolae in Mphi. Caveolae are initial acceptor sites for cholesteryl esters and these findings indicate a possible role for caveolae and SR-BI in Mphi-selective lipid uptake and in regulating Mphi cholesterol flux in the vascular wall.

Increased nuclear factor-kappaB activation in colitis of interleukin-2-deficient mice.

Recent studies support nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) as a critical transcription factor in inflammatory bowel disease. We examined NF-kappaB and its inhibitors, IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta, in the colitis of interleukin-2 deficient (IL-2-/-) mice at the ages of 5, 10, and 15 weeks and compared them with those of age-matched wild-type mice. Colon levels of nuclear NF-kappaB and mRNA for NF-kappaB responsive cytokines interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were markedly increased in interleukin-2-/-mice. Colon interleukin-1beta protein levels were significantly elevated, consistent with increased interleukin-1beta mRNA, whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha protein levels were either lower than those of the control group or did not differ. Protein levels of the immunomodulatory cytokine interleukin-10 were diminished. The NF-kappaB responsive IkappaB-alpha was also increased, mirroring NF-kappaB activation. In contrast, IkappaB-beta levels did not differ from those of wild-type mice in the 5- and 10-week groups and were only mildly increased in the 15-week group. Serum amyloid A, an acute phase protein that also is NF-kappaB-responsive, was dramatically elevated in the serum of interleukin-2-/- mice and correlated with the severity of the colitis. These data support a role for NF-kappaB in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation in interleukin-2-/- mice. The measurement of NF-kappaB in colon tissue samples may provide a sensitive means of assessing the state of activation of the mucosal immune response, and serum amyloid A appears to be a reliable biochemical marker of disease activity.

Green tea polyphenols block endotoxin-induced tumor necrosis factor-production and lethality in a murine model.

Green tea polyphenols are potent antioxidants. They have both anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, their mechanisms of actions remain unclear. In inflammation, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNFalpha) plays a pivotal role. NF-KB, an oxidative stress -sensitive nuclear transcription factor, controls the expression of many genes including the TNFalpha gene. We postulated that green tea polyphenols regulate TNFalpha gene expression by modulating NF-KB activation through their antioxidant properties. In the macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, (-)epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major green tea polyphenol, decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNFalpha production in a dose-dependent fashion (50% inhibition at 100 mmol/L). EGCG also inhibited LPS-induced TNFalpha mRNA expression and nuclear NF-KB-binding activity in RAW264.7 cells (30-40% inhibition at 100 mmol/L). Similarly, EGCG inhibited LPS-induced TNFalpha production in elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages. In male BALB/c mice, green tea polyphenols (given by oral gavage 2 h prior to an i.p. injection of 40 mg LPS/kg body wt) decreased LPS-induced TNFalpha production in serum in a dose-responsive fashion. At a dose of 0.5 g green tea polyphenols/kg body wt, serum TNFalpha was reduced by 80% of control. Moreover, 0.5 g green tea polyphenols/kg body wt completely inhibited LPS-induced lethality in male BALB/c mice. We conclude that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of green tea polyphenols is mediated at least in part through down-regulation of TNFalpha gene expression by blocking NF-KB activation. These findings suggest that green tea polyphenols may be effective therapy for a variety of inflammatory processes.

Structure, organization, and chromosomal mapping of the gene encoding macrosialin, a macrophage-restricted protein.

Murine macrosialin and its human homologue CD68 are heavily glycosylated transmembrane proteins expressed specifically in macrophages and macrophage-related cells. Macrosialin is predominantly a late endosomal protein but is also found on the cell surface where it binds oxidized LDL, an important factor in atherogenesis. We have cloned and sequenced the murine macrosialin gene (Cd68) and localized it by linkage analysis to chromosome 11. The gene is 1908 nucleotides long from the start site of transcription to the end of the 3'UTR. It has six exons, which range in size from 79 to 434 nucleotides. The promoter lacks a classical TATA box but contains other protein binding sites consistent with preferential monocyte/macrophage gene expression. Although the function of macrosialin is unknown, it might play a role in lipoprotein regulation given its binding of oxidized LDL in vitro and its colocalization to a region on chromosome 11 involved in the control of HDL levels.

SR-BII, an isoform of the scavenger receptor BI containing an alternate cytoplasmic tail, mediates lipid transfer between high density lipoprotein and cells.

The scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), binds high density lipoprotein (HDL) and mediates selective uptake of cholesteryl ester from HDL and HDL-dependent cholesterol efflux from cells. We recently identified a new mRNA variant that differs from the previously characterized form in that the encoded C-terminal cytoplasmic domain is almost completely different. In the present study, we demonstrate that the mRNAs for mouse SR-BI and SR-BII (previously termed SR-BI.2) are the alternatively spliced products of a single gene. The translation products predicted from human, bovine, mouse, hamster, and rat cDNAs exhibit a high degree of sequence similarity within the SR-BII C-terminal domain (62-67% identity when compared with the human sequence), suggesting that this variant is biologically important. SR-BII protein represents approximately 12% of the total immunodetectable SR-BI/II protein in mouse liver. Subcellular fractionation of transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells showed that SR-BII, like SR-BI, is enriched in caveolae, indicating that the altered cytoplasmic tail does not affect targeting of the receptor. SR-BII mediated both selective cellular uptake of cholesteryl ether from HDL as well as HDL-dependent cholesterol efflux from cells, although with approximately 4-fold lower efficiency than SR-BI. In vivo studies using adenoviral vectors showed that SR-BII was relatively less efficient than SR-BI in reducing plasma HDL cholesterol. These studies show that SR-BII, an HDL receptor isoform containing a distinctly different cytoplasmic tail, mediates selective lipid transfer between HDL and cells, but with a lower efficiency than the previously characterized variant.

Macrophage phenotype in mice deficient in both macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (op) and apolipoprotein E.

Mice deficient in both macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF, op) and apolipoprotein E (apoE) have elevated cholesterol levels but are protected from atherosclerosis. To assess the contribution of macrophage (Mphi) phenotypic heterogeneity and scavenger receptor (SR-A) expression to this seeming paradox, we characterized the Mphi phenotype by immunohistochemistry in these animals. Lesion size was determined in animals fed a chow or Western-type diet, and lipoprotein clearance studies were performed in vivo. Op0/E0 mice have fourfold smaller aortic root lesions than op2/E0 animals despite 2.5-fold higher total plasma cholesterol levels. Mphis in atherosclerotic lesions of op2/E0 mice constitute a predominantly recruited and M-CSF-dependent population. In addition, Mphis in different locations in plaques show phenotypic heterogeneity. SR-A expression in op0/E0 mice is reduced in proportion to the decrease in Mphi numbers, and M-CSF is thus not an essential requirement for SR-A expression in vivo. M-CSF-deficient mice degrade injected AcLDL , showing an adequate level of SR-A activity present in vivo. In contrast, beta-VLDL clearance in op0/E0 mice is decreased, implicating monocytes/Mphis in its catabolism. There is prominent lipid accumulation in op2/E0 Kupffer cells and hepatocytes but not in M-CSF-independent Kupffer Mphis from op0/E0 mice. SR-A, while abundantly expressed on both Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells in op2/E0 mice, remains mainly on sinusoidal endothelial cells in op0/E0 mice. This may explain preservation of SR-A activity in these animals. Our findings clearly illustrate the importance of both M-CSF and M-CSF-dependent monocytes/Mphis in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis and in atherogenesis.

Alternative forms of the scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI).

The class B, type I scavenger receptor has been implicated as a receptor for high density lipoprotein (HDL). We have isolated a murine cDNA clone encoding an alternative form of SR-BI that differs in the putative cytoplasmic domain of the receptor. This variant form, likely the result of alternative mRNA splicing, is designated SR-BI.2. SR-BI.2 mRNA was detected in mouse tissues known to express SR-BI and tissue-specific differences in the relative abundance of SR-BI.2 were apparent. In mouse adrenal glands, SR-BI.2 represented approximately one-third of total SR-BI mRNA, whereas in mouse testes, SR-BI.2 represented the major mRNA species (79% of total). SR-BI.2 was also detected in the human cell lines examined, namely HeLa, HepG2, and THP-1 cells. CHO cells transfected with the mouse SR-BI.2 cDNA expressed significant levels of SR-BI.2 protein and acquired the ability to take up fluorescent lipid (DiI) from DiI-HDL. Alternative splicing of SR-BI represents a potentially important process for the regulation of SR-BI expression and function.

The apolipoprotein E2 (Arg145Cys) mutation causes autosomal dominant type III hyperlipoproteinemia with incomplete penetrance.

Type III hyperlipoproteinemia (type III HLP) is an atherogenic disorder of lipoprotein metabolism characterized by the accumulation of cholesterol-enriched VLDL and is usually associated with homozygosity for a normal variant of apoE, apoE2. ApoE2(Arg145Cys) is a rare variant arising from a C-->T transition at nucleotide 4031 and has been linked to type III HLP. Ten subjects from a group of 42 unrelated individuals with proven type III HLP were found to be either heterozygous or homozygous for the apoE2(Arg145Cys) mutation by DNA sequencing. The apoE4-Philadelphia (Glu13Lys, Arg145Cys) variant was subsequently excluded. None of 4 homozygotes (3 blacks and 1 of mixed ancestry) developed ischemic heart disease, but they did present with xanthomata. In contrast, 6 heterozygous subjects presented mainly with ischemic heart disease but generally lacked physical signs. Cholesterol concentrations ranged from 6.2 mmol/L to 13.3 mmol/L and triglyceride levels from 3.2 to 13.2 mmol/L. The dyslipoproteinemia in homozygous and heterozygous subjects was indistinguishable. Family investigation identified an additional 10 heterozygous mutant-allele carriers, of whom 3 had type III HLP. This unique cohort of patients indicates that the apoE2(Arg145Cys) mutation is relatively common in several population groups in our region and may be particularly prevalent in blacks. There was no clear allele dosage effect present for the development of dyslipoproteinemia or atherosclerosis. The mode of inheritance is for the first time clearly established to be autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance.