Dietary fat modulates serum paraoxonase 1 activity in rats.

We examined the effects of dietary fats with specific fatty acid compositions, on serum paraoxonase (PON1) activity in rats. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into four dietary groups. One group received the control diet [AIN 93M with soybean oil (5 g/100 g diet)], whereas the remaining three groups received the modified control diet supplemented with (15 g/100 g diet) triolein, tripalmitin or fish oil, respectively. After 20 d, blood was obtained after overnight food deprivation and PON1 activity was determined. Serum lipids and lipid components of lipoproteins were also determined. Serum PON1 activity [micromol/(L.min)] was significantly (P: < 0.05) higher in triolein (98 +/- 6) and lower in fish oil (41 +/- 4), compared with tripalmitin-fed rats (63 +/- 11). Serum PON1 activity in tripalmitin-fed rats was comparable to that of controls (67 +/- 9). Serum PON1 activity correlated significantly with serum lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity (r = 0.77, P: < 0.001) and was transported in blood principally in association with the denser subfraction of HDL, very high density lipoprotein (VHDL; d > 1.15 kg/L). Serum PON1 activity correlated strongly with serum lipids as well as lipids of VLDL, HDL and its subfractions. Multiple linear regression analysis, however, showed a significant relationship of serum PON1 activity, principally with the phospholipids of VHDL (r = 0.47, P: < 0.002). These data suggest that the modulation of serum PON1 activity by dietary fat may be mediated via the effect of the specific fatty acids on the synthesis and secretion of VHDL, the subfraction of HDL that transports the majority of PON1 in the blood.

Hyperbaric oxygen reduces the progression and accelerates the regression of atherosclerosis in rabbits.

We studied the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on the extent of diet-induced accumulation of lipid oxidation products in rabbit plasma and tissues, on plasma paraoxonase activity, and on the extent of progression and regression of atherosclerotic lesions in the rabbit aorta. HBO treatment of cholesterol-fed rabbits dramatically reduces the development of arterial lesions despite having little or no effect on plasma or individual lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Compared with no treatment in cholesterol-fed animals, HBO treatment also substantially reduces the accumulation of lipid oxidation products (conjugated dienes, trienes, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) in plasma, in the low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein fractions of plasma, in the liver, and in the aortic tissues. In addition, HBO treatment prevents the decrease in plasma paraoxonase activity observed in rabbits fed cholesterol-rich diets. Similarly, in regression studies, HBO treatment has no effect on the rate of plasma (or lipoprotein) cholesterol decline but significantly accelerates aortic lesion regression compared with no treatment. Direct measures of aortic cholesterol content support these morphological observations. On the basis of these results, we conclude that repeated, but relatively short, exposure to HBO induces an antioxidant defense mechanism(s) that is responsible for retarding the development or accelerating the regression of atherosclerotic lesions.

Fatty acids modulate lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase secretion independently of effects on triglyceride secretion in primary rat hepatocytes.

The regulation of plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) expression is not well understood. Although oleic acid increases both the secretion of triglycerides and LCAT by primary rat hepatocytes, the effect of other fatty acids (FA) on LCAT secretion is not known. This study was designed to examine the effect of FA on the hepatic secretion of LCAT, triglyceride and apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1). Primary rat hepatocytes were incubated with serum-free medium, supplemented with individual FA (0-1 mmol/L) for 22-24 h. Preliminary studies indicated a linear secretion of LCAT up to 24 h in both control and FA-treated cells. When hepatocytes were incubated with 1 mmol/L FA, the LCAT secretion increased 50-100% (P < 0.01) in the presence of the 18-carbon FA (stearic, oleic, elaidic and linoleic acids), whereas the presence of butyric, lauric and palmitic acids had no significant effect. LCAT secretion decreased (P < 0.01) in the presence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). All FA (except DHA) significantly enhanced triglyceride secretion; however, only the 18 carbon FA significantly stimulated the synthesis and secretion of apoA-1 and secretion of LCAT. The secretion of LCAT correlated with apoA-1 secretion (r = 0.88, P = 0.004) but not with triglyceride secretion (r = 0.55, P = 0.12). Treatment with oleic acid resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in hepatocyte LCAT mRNA accumulation, whereas butyrate and palmitate had no effect. These data indicate that FA that promote the apparent synthesis and secretion of apoA-1 also stimulate the secretion of LCAT in vitro, suggesting a coordinate regulatory mechanism for apoA-1 and LCAT expression.