Low LCAT Activity is Linked to Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Mortality in CKD patients.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often associated with decreased activity of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), an enzyme essential for HDL maturation. This reduction in LCAT activity may potentially contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with CKD. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between LCAT activity in patients with CKD and the risk of adverse outcomes. We measured serum LCAT activity and characterized lipoprotein profiles using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 453 non-dialysis CKD patients from the CARE FOR HOMe study. LCAT activity correlated directly with smaller HDL particle size, a type of HDL potentially linked to greater cardiovascular protection. Over a mean follow-up of 5.0 ± 2.2 years, baseline LCAT activity was inversely associated with risk of death (standardized HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.50-0.76; p<0.001) and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) (standardized HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.52-0.85; p=0.001). These associations remained significant even after adjusting for other risk factors. Interestingly, LCAT activity was not associated with the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events or kidney function decline during the follow-up. To conclude, our findings demonstrate that LCAT activity is independently associated with all-cause mortality and ADHF in patients with CKD. Moreover, LCAT activity is directly linked to smaller, potentially more protective HDL subclasses.

Unveiling Renal Lipid Deposition: A Rare Case of Hepatic Glomerulosclerosis Resembling Lecithin-Cholesterol Acyltransferase (LCAT) Deficiency Post Liver Transplantation.

Hepatic glomerulosclerosis, a renal complication of liver cirrhosis, presents challenges in diagnosis and management. This case report discusses the rarity of kidney biopsy findings resembling lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency post liver transplantation. We present the case of a patient with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) from alcohol-related cirrhosis, who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with persistent proteinuria after transplantation. Kidney biopsy revealed features of hepatic glomerulopathy resembling both IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and LCAT deficiency. The histopathological similarities between hepatic glomerulosclerosis and LCAT deficiency suggest a potential link between liver disease and lipid deposition in the kidneys. The clinical course and outcomes of such renal alterations post liver transplantation remain uncertain, highlighting the need for further research in glomerular pathology in the context of liver transplantation. This case underscores the importance of kidney biopsy in ESLD patients and the necessity for more attention to glomerular pathology post liver transplantation, especially in the current era of increasing liver transplantation rates.

Lecithin and cardiovascular health: a comprehensive review.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the prime causes of mortality globally. Therefore, concerted efforts are made to prevent or manage disruptions from normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. Disruption in lipid metabolism is a major contributor to cardiovascular dysfunction. This review examines how lecithin impacts lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health. It emphasizes lecithin's ability to reduce excess low-density lipoproteins (LDL) while specifically promoting the synthesis of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, thus contributing to clearer understanding of its role in cardiovascular well-being. Emphasizing the importance of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) process, the article delves into its contribution in removing surplus cholesterol from cells. This review aims to clarify existing literature on lipid metabolism, providing insights for targeted strategies in the prevention and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This review summarizes the potential of lecithin in cardiovascular health and the role of LCAT in cholesterol metabolism modulation, based on articles from 2000 to 2023 sourced from databases like MEDLINE, PubMed and the Scientific Electronic Library Online. MAIN BODY: While studies suggest a positive correlation between increased LCAT activities, reduced LDL particle size and elevated serum levels of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) markers in individuals at risk of ASCVD, the review acknowledges existing controversies. The precise nature of LCAT's potential adverse effects remains uncertain, with varying reports in the literature. Notably, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea have been sporadically documented. CONCLUSIONS: The review calls for a comprehensive investigation into the complexities of LCAT's impact on cardiovascular health, recognizing the need for a nuanced understanding of its potential drawbacks. Despite indications of potential benefits, conflicting findings warrant further research to clarify LCAT's role in atherosclerosis.

Longitudinal analysis of clinical and laboratory biomarkers in a patient with familial lecithin: Cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency (FLD) and accelerated eGFR decline: A case study.

Familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency (FLD) is an ultra-rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by very low HDL-C levels, corneal opacity, anemia, and progressive renal disease. The rate and severity of renal disease are variable across FLD patients and the biomarkers and risk factors for disease progression are poorly understood. Here we report a 30 year-long comparative analysis of the clinical and laboratory biomarkers in an FLD patient with accelerated renal decline, who underwent 2 kidney and one liver transplantations. Results show that elevated TG and non-HDL-C levels may promote the formation of LpX and accelerate renal function decline, whereas markers of anemia may be early predictors. Conversely, corneal opacity progresses at a steady rate and does not correlate with lipid, hematologic, or renal biomarkers. Our study suggests that monitoring of markers of anemia may aid the early detection and timely management of kidney disease with conservative therapies. Furthermore, it suggests that controlling hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia may help improve renal disease prognosis.

Identification and Molecular Simulation of Genetic Variants in ABCA1 Gene Associated with Susceptibility to Dyslipidemia in Type 2 Diabetes.

Genetic insights help us to investigate disease pathogenesis and risk. The ABCA1 protein encoded by ABCA1 is involved in transporting cholesterol across the cell membrane. Genetic variations in the ABCA1 gene are well documented; however, their role in the development of diabetic dyslipidemia still needs to be explored. This study aimed to identify the associations of rs757194699 (K1587Q) and rs2066714 (I883M) with dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes and performed molecular simulations. In our case-control study, 330 individuals were divided equally into a diabetic dyslipidemia cases and a healthy controls. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were performed to screen selected variants of the ABCA1 gene. Sanger sequencing was also performed to find genetic mutations in exon 5 of the ABCA1 gene. The C allele of rs757194699 was observed at a high frequency in cases compared to controls and followed the overdominant genetic model (p < 0.0001, OR:3.84; CI:1.67-8.82). The frequency of G allele of rs2066714 was significantly higher in cases compared to controls and followed the genetic model of codominant (p< 0.0001, OR: 39.61; CI:9.97-157.32), dominant (p < 0.0001,OR:59.59; CI:15.19-233.81), overdominant (p< 0.0001, OR:9.75; CI:3.16-30.11), and log-additive (p< 0.0001, OR:42.15; CI:11.08-160.40). In silico modeling and docking revealed that rs2066714 and rs757194699 produced deleterious conformational changes in the ABCA1 protein, resulting in alterations in the binding of the apoA1 protein. There were no genetic variations found in exon-5 in Sanger sequencing. The G allele of rs2066714 and C allele of rs757194699 in the ABCA1 gene were found to be risk alleles in the development of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes. These polymorphisms could alter the binding site of ABCA1 with apoA1 thus disturbs the reverse cholesterol transport.

ALKBH5 regulates chicken adipogenesis by mediating LCAT mRNA stability depending on m6A modification.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation in various biological processes, our research is the first to elucidate its specific impact on LCAT mRNA stability and adipogenesis in poultry. RESULTS: The 6 100-day-old female chickens were categorized into high (n = 3) and low-fat chickens (n = 3) based on their abdominal fat ratios, and their abdominal fat tissues were processed for MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq. An integrated analysis of MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq omics data revealed 16 differentially expressed genes associated with to differential m6A modifications. Among them, ELOVL fatty acid elongase 2 (ELOVL2), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), fatty acid binding protein 9 (PMP2), fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1), lysosomal associated membrane protein 3 (LAMP3), lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1) have ever been reported to be associated with adipogenesis. Interestingly, LCAT was down-regulated and expressed along with decreased levels of mRNA methylation methylation in the low-fat group. Mechanistically, the highly expressed ALKBH5 gene regulates LCAT RNA demethylation and affects LCAT mRNA stability. In addition, LCAT inhibits preadipocyte proliferation and promotes preadipocyte differentiation, and plays a key role in adipogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, ALKBH5 mediates RNA stability of LCAT through demethylation and affects chicken adipogenesis. This study provides a theoretical basis for further understanding of RNA methylation regulation in chicken adipogenesis.

Targeting host-specific metabolic pathways-opportunities and challenges for anti-infective therapy.

Microorganisms can takeover critical metabolic pathways in host cells to fuel their replication. This interaction provides an opportunity to target host metabolic pathways, in addition to the pathogen-specific ones, in the development of antimicrobials. Host-directed therapy (HDT) is an emerging strategy of anti-infective therapy, which targets host cell metabolism utilized by facultative and obligate intracellular pathogens for entry, replication, egress or persistence of infected host cells. This review provides an overview of the host lipid metabolism and links it to the challenges in the development of HDTs for viral and bacterial infections, where pathogens are using important for the host lipid enzymes, or producing their own analogous of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) thus interfering with the human host's lipid metabolism.

Familial LCAT Deficiency and Low HDL-C Levels: In silico Characterization of Two Rare LCAT Missense Mutations.

Mutations in the lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) gene, which catalyzes the esterification of cholesterol, result in two types of autosomal recessive disorders: Familial LCAT deficiency (FLD) and Fish Eye Disease (FED). While both phenotypes are characterized by corneal opacities and different forms of dyslipidemia, such as low levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), FLD exhibits more severe clinical manifestations like splenomegaly, anemia, and renal failure. We describe the first clinically and genetically confirmed case of FLD in Colombia which corresponds to a 46-year-old woman with corneal opacity, hypothyroidism, and dyslipidemia, who does not have any manifestations of renal failure, with two pathogenic heterozygous missense variants in the LCAT gene: LCAT (NM_000229.2):c.803G>A (p.Arg268His) and LCAT (NM_000229.2):c.368G>C (p.Arg123Pro). In silico analysis of the mutations predicted the physicochemical properties of the mutated protein, causing instability and potentially decreased LCAT function. These compound mutations highlight the clinical heterogeneity of the phenotypes associated with LCAT gene mutations.

A High-Throughput NMR Method for Lipoprotein-X Quantification.

Lipoprotein X (LP-X) is an abnormal cholesterol-rich lipoprotein particle that accumulates in patients with cholestatic liver disease and familial lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency (FLD). Because there are no high-throughput diagnostic tests for its detection, a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based method was developed for use on a clinical NMR analyzer commonly used for the quantification of lipoproteins and other cardiovascular biomarkers. The LP-X assay was linear from 89 to 1615 mg/dL (cholesterol units) and had a functional sensitivity of 44 mg/dL. The intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) varied between 1.8 and 11.8%, depending on the value of LP-X, whereas the inter-assay CV varied between 1.5 and 15.4%. The assay showed no interference with bilirubin levels up to 317 mg/dL and was also unaffected by hemolysis for hemoglobin values up to 216 mg/dL. Samples were stable when stored for up to 6 days at 4 °C but were not stable when frozen. In a large general population cohort (n = 277,000), LP-X was detected in only 50 subjects. The majority of LP-X positive cases had liver disease (64%), and in seven cases, had genetic FLD (14%). In summary, we describe a new NMR-based assay for LP-X, which can be readily implemented for routine clinical laboratory testing.

Seasonal Factors Are Associated with Activities of Enzymes Involved in High-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism among Pregnant Females in Ghana.

Background: Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) during pregnancy and postnatally were previously shown to improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) and length in the children of supplemented mothers at 18 mo of age in the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS) DYAD trial in Ghana. However, the effects of SQ-LNS on maternal HDL functionality during pregnancy are unknown. Objective: The goal of this cross-sectional, secondary outcome analysis was to compare HDL function in mothers supplemented with SQ-LNS vs. iron and folic acid (IFA) during gestation. Methods: HDL CEC and the activities of 3 HDL-associated enzymes were analyzed in archived plasma samples (N = 197) from a subsample of females at 36 weeks of gestation enrolled in the iLiNS-DYAD trial in Ghana. Correlations between HDL function and birth outcomes, inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and the effects of season were explored to determine the influence of these factors on HDL function in this cohort of pregnant females. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in HDL CEC, plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity, or phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity between mothers supplemented with SQ-LNS compared with IFA control, and no statistically significant relationships between maternal HDL function and childbirth outcomes. LCAT activity was negatively correlated with plasma AGP (R = -0.19, P = 0.007) and CRP (R = -0.28, P < 0.001), CETP and LCAT activity were higher during the dry season compared to the wet season, and PLTP activity was higher in the wet season compared to the dry season. Conclusions: Mothers in Ghana supplemented with SQ-LNS compared with IFA during gestation did not have measurable differences in HDL functionality, and maternal HDL function was not associated with childbirth outcomes. However, seasonal factors and markers of inflammation were associated with HDL function, indicating that these factors had a stronger influence on HDL functionality than SQ-LNS supplementation during pregnancy. Clinical Trial Registry number: The study was registered as NCT00970866. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00970866.

Very low HDL levels: clinical assessment and management

ABSTRACT In individuals with very low high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol, such as Tangier disease, LCAT deficiency, and familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia, there is an increased risk of premature atherosclerosis. However, analyzes based on comparisons of populations with small variations in HDL-C mediated by polygenic alterations do not confirm these findings, suggesting that there is an indirect association or heterogeneity in the pathophysiological mechanisms related to the reduction of HDL-C. Trials that evaluated some of the HDL functions demonstrate a more robust degree of association between the HDL system and atherosclerotic risk, but as they were not designed to modify lipoprotein functionality, there is insufficient data to establish a causal relationship. We currently have randomized clinical trials of therapies that increase HDL-C concentration by various mechanisms, and this HDL-C elevation has not independently demonstrated a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, this evidence shows that (a) measuring HDL-C as a way of estimating HDL-related atheroprotective system function is insufficient and (b) we still do not know how to increase cardiovascular protection with therapies aimed at modifying HDL metabolism. This leads us to a greater effort to understand the mechanisms of molecular action and cellular interaction of HDL, completely abandoning the traditional view focused on the plasma concentration of HDL-C. In this review, we will detail this new understanding and the new horizon for using the HDL system to mitigate residual atherosclerotic risk.

Efeito da administração In Bolus da heparina sódica no remodelamento de partículas lepoprotéicas associadas ao transporte reverso do colesterol / In bolus administration the effect of heparin sodium in remodeling lepoprotéicas particles associated with reverse cholesterol transport

Introdução: as doenças cardiovasculares acometem milhares de pessoas no mundo. Destas, a doença arterosclerótica está entre as de maior morbimortalidade. Para a avaliação da necessidade de intervenções hemodinâmicas e/ou revascularização miocárdica, há a necessidade da realização do cateterismo (CATE), procedimento de imagem indicado para evidenciar pontos de obstrução e determinar a melhor estratégia cirúrgica. Para a realização do CATE utiliza-se heparina sódica (5000 UI) in bolus. Atualmente, sabe-se que a heparina interfere no remodelamento de partículas lipoproteicas por liberação da lipoproteína lipase (LPL) e da lipase hepática (LH), essa ação pode alterar o transporte reverso do colesterol (TRC), em função de modificações no metabolismo das lipoproteínas. Métodos: foram selecionados por conveniência 20 pacientes, 10 do sexo masculino e 10 do sexo feminino, ambos os sexos, entre 45 e 73 anos, admitidos no Hospital Ana Neri, submetidos à cineangiocoronariografia (CATE)...

Introduction: cardiovascular diseases affect thousands of people worldwide. Of these, the atherosclerotic disease is one of the most morbidity and mortality. To evaluate the need for hemodynamic interventions and / or CABG, the catheterization (CATE) is performed, an imaging procedure to evidence obstruction and to determine the best surgical strategy. To perform CATE, is necessary to use in bolus sodium heparin (5000 IU). Currently, it is known that heparin interferes with the remodeling of the lipoprotein particles by releasing lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL), this action may alter the reverse cholesterol transport (TRC), by changes in lipoprotein metabolism. Methods: were selected by convenience 20 patients, 10 male and 10 female, both gender, between 45 and 73 years old, admitted to the Hospital Ana Neri, who underwent coronary angiography (CATE)...

A Case of Familial Lecithin-cholesterol Acyltransferase (LCAT) Deficiency

PURPOSE: To report a case of a familial lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency patient with bilateral corneal opacities. CASE SUMMARY: A 26-year-old man with bilateral corneal opacities visited our hospital. We took slit lamp examination, corneal thickness measurement, corneal endothelial cell counts and fundus examination. Blood and urine tests were included. Kidney biopsy was done. The tissues were observed by a light microscopy and an electron microscopy. Hemolytic anemia, proteinuria, hematuria, hypertriglyceridemia, decreased HDL cholesterol level, and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency were found. At kidney biopsy, electron-lucent vacuoles and lamellar inclusion body were found. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral corneal opacities can be an imporant clinical sign of systemic disease which is caused by abnormal lipid metabolism like the familial lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency.

Efeito de tratamento cirúrgico sobre a atividade da enzima hepática lecitina: colesterol aciltransferase (LCAT) na esquistossomose mansônica

Schistosomiasis mansoni is a tropical disease and remains as an important public healthy problem in Northeast - Brazil, where it is highly endemic. This disease has the liver as the major focus of its histological lesions, physiopathological alterations and clinical manifestations. Previous studies have shown alteration on lipid metabolism in the hepatosplenic form of Schistosomiasis. One of the main alterations is the reduction on lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, an hepatic enzyme that catalyze the esterification of cholesterol in plasma In this work, we evaluate the LCAT activity in plasma from patients with hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis mansoni who were subjected to a new surgical treatment, which consists of splenectomy followed by auto-transplantation of spleen tissue. LCAT activity was detected by using a radioactive substrate. Both [14C]free and esterified cholesterol produced by the LCAT reaction were separated by thin layer chromatography, and the sample radioactivity was counted in a liquid scintilation analyzer. LCAT activity from plasma of patients subjected to splenectomy and spleen tissue implantation were reduced by 32 %, in comparison to the control group. However, in Schistosoma mansoni patients who were only clinically treated the reduction on LCAT activity was twice (64%) as much as that found in plasma of patients subjected to splenectomy and spleen tissue implantation. These results suggest a significant improvement on LCAT activity after the surgical treatment of patients with the hepatosplenic form of Schistosomiasis mansoni.

A esquistossomose mansônica é uma doença tropical que constitui um importante problema de saúde pública, na Região Nordeste do Brasil, onde é encontrada em alta endemicidade. Essa parasitose tem o fígado como principal alvo de suas lesões histológicas, alterações fisiopatológicas e manifestações clínicas. Estudos anteriores reportam alterações no metabolismo lipídico associadas à forma hepatoesplênica da esquistosomose.Uma das principais alterações consiste na redução da atividade da enzima hepática LCAT, responsável pela esterificação do colesterol no plasma. Neste trabalho, avaliamos a atividade da LCAT no plasma de pacientes portadores da esquistossomose mansônica hepatoesplênica, os quais foram submetidos a esplenectomia e reimplante de parte de tecido do baço. A atividade enzimática da LCAT foi determinada com substrato radioativo. O [14C]colesterol livre e esterificado, formados por ação da LCAT, foram separados por cromatografia em camada delgada e a radioatividade das amostras foi contada em analisador de cintilação líquida. A atividade da LCAT nos pacientes submetidos a esplenectomia e reimplante de tecido do baço apresentou redução de 32 %, em relação ao grupo controle. Contudo, nos portadores da doença que não foram submetidos ao procedimento cirúrgico a redução na atividade da LCAT foi o dobro (64%) da observada em pacientes esplenectomizados e com reimplante de parte do tecido do baço. Esses resultados sugerem haver uma melhora significativa no efeito da forma grave da esquistossomose mansônica sobre a atividade da LCAT.

Serum lipid levels in female handball players / 体力科学

Serum lipid levels in female handball players were studied. A group of well trained female handball players, in comparison with a group of less active females, had a significantly lower level of triglyceride, higher levels of HDL-cholesterol and HDL<SUB>2</SUB>-Cholesterol subfractions, and higher apolipoprotein A-I and LCAT activities. The ratio of apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I, as an atherogenic index, was also significantly lower in the handball players. These results suggest that prolonged regular exercise such as handball training may produce favorable changes in serum lipids, thus helping to prevent and reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis.

Effect of physical training on the metabolism of serum and arterial cholesterol / 体力科学

The effect of a treadmill running program on the metabolism of cholesterol in serum and in arterial wall was studied in male Wistar rats, aged 7 weeks and weighing about 200 g- Rats were exercised on 6 days a week for 8 week, running 1, 000 m a day at 15 m/min. The trained rats gave the follwing evidence, as compared with the sedentary control animals:<BR>1. Remarkably lower body weight<BR>2. Significantly lower level of serum cholesterol-total, free, and LDL cholesterol<BR>3. Elevated in vivo incorporation of <SUP>14</SUP>C-mevalonate into serum cholesterol<BR>4. Enhancement of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity in serum<BR>5. Decrease in the amount of cholesterol in arterial wall cells<BR>6. Increase in in vivo incorporation of <SUP>14</SUP>C-mevalonate into arterial cholesterol.<BR>The results indicate that the excersice promotes the turnover of cholesterol in serum and arterial wall, repressing the accumulation of choleterol ester in arterial wall cells, and a prophylactic effect of the physical training for arteriosclerotic diseases has been suggested.