Lifelong benefits on myocardial infarction mortality: 40-year follow-up of the randomized Oslo diet and antismoking study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of saturated fat on atherosclerotic vascular disease are currently debated. OBJECTIVES: In the Oslo cardiovascular study initiated in 1972/1973, a 5-year randomized intervention was conducted in healthy middle-aged men at high risk of coronary heart disease to compare the effects on coronary heart disease incidence of diet and antismoking advice versus control (no intervention). A significant reduction (47%) in first myocardial infarction incidence was observed. We have followed mortality up to 40 years to establish whether a lifelong benefit on mortality risk of myocardial infarction could be observed. METHODS: In the present study, a total of 16 203 men (63% of those invited), aged 40-49 years, participated in a screening examination. Overall, 1232 men with total serum cholesterol levels of 6.9-8.9 mmol L(-1) (80% smokers) were included in the study. The dietary intervention consisted of mainly decreasing the intake of saturated fats and increasing fish and vegetable products, as well as weight reduction in overweight subjects. Smokers were advised to stop smoking. Cox regression analysis was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The intervention group showed a sustained reduced risk of death at first myocardial infarction (hazard ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.51-1.00; P = 0.049), compared to control subjects up to 40 years. During follow-up, the beneficial effect developed gradually but proportionally up to about 15 years after randomization. Later, the curves were parallel. All-cause mortality decreased in the period 8-20 years after randomization, but not thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: Receiving advice about a healthy lifestyle led to a long-term reduced risk of coronary mortality during the following 40 years. Our results suggest that systematically providing effective counselling for a healthy lifestyle for 5 years can lead to lifelong benefits.

Transport and storage of vitamin A.

The requirement of vitamin A (retinoids) for vision has been recognized for decades. In addition, vitamin A is involved in fetal development and in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of cells throughout life. This fat-soluble organic compound cannot be synthesized endogenously by humans and thus is an essential nutrient; a well-regulated transport and storage system provides tissues with the correct amounts of retinoids in spite of normal fluctuations in daily vitamin A intake. An overview is presented here of current knowledge and hypotheses about the absorption, transport, storage, and metabolism of vitamin A. Some information is also presented about a group of ligand-dependent transcription factors, the retinoic acid receptors, that apparently mediate many of the extravisual effects of retinoids.

Retinol esterification by microsomes from the mucosa of human small intestine. Evidence for acyl-Coenzyme A retinol acyltransferase activity.

The mechanism of the intestinal esterification of retinol has been obscure. Recently, an acyl-Coenzyme A (CoA):retinol acyltransferase (ARAT) was found in rat intestinal microsomes, and experiments were therefore conducted to determine whether a corresponding enzyme exists in human small intestine. When microsomes were incubated with [3H]retinol and palmitoyl-CoA, or retinol and [1-14C]palmitoyl-CoA, radioactive retinyl palmitate was formed as identified by alumina column chromatography and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Heating the microsomes for 30 min at 60 degrees C resulted in loss of activity. The esterification was negligible without exogenous acyl-CoA and markedly stimulated by palmitoyl-, oleoyl-, and stearoyl-CoA in concentrations up to 20 microM. The acyl-CoA was successfully replaced by an acyl-CoA generating system, but not by unactivated palmitate (2.5-200 microM). The assay was dependent on the presence of albumin with optimum activity at 2-10 mg/ml. The optimal retinol concentration was 20-30 microM and pH approximately 7.4. The esterifying activity was completely inhibited by 8 mM of taurocholate and to 90% by 1 mM of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Activity was found throughout the small intestine. In jejunum the rate of retinol esterification was: 3.44 +/- 2.24 nmol [3H]retinyl ester formed . mg microsomal protein-1 . min-1 (mean +/- SD, n = 12). The corresponding activity in whole homogenates of biopsies were 1.17 +/- 0.28 (n = 8). It is concluded that human small intestine contains a microsomal acyl-CoA:retinol acyltransferase. Due to its high activity in vitro this enzyme is likely to be responsible for the intestinal esterification of retinol.

Plasma lipoproteins in familial lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency: lipid composition and reactivity in vitro.

Plasma lipoproteins from patients with familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency have been fractioned by preparative ultra-centrifugation and gel filtration and their lipid content and reactivity studied. All of the lipoproteins are abnormal with respect to lipid concentration or relative lipid content. The low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) appear to react normally with partially purified LCAT from normal plasma. Also, the lipids of the very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and LDL, like those of the corresponding lipoproteins of normal plasma, are indirectly altered by the action of LCAT on normal HDL. Thus, during incubation in vitro VLDL cholesteryl ester is increased and VLDL triglyceride is decreased, as described by others for VLDL from hyperlipemic plasma, and both the unesterified cholesterol and lecithin of the VLDL and LDL are decreased. The patients' VLDL and LDL are abnormal, however, in that they lose unesterified cholesterol and lecithin to normal HDL in the absence of LCAT. Also, the patients' HDL lose these lipids to erythrocyte membranes in the absence of the enzyme. Our results provide further evidence that the abnormal cholesterol and phospholipid composition of the patients' lipoproteins is caused by the LCAT deficiency. They support the postulate that an excess of unesterified cholesterol and lecithin develops as VLDL are converted to LDL and HDL and suggest that in the absence of LCAT this excess lipid distributes among plasma lipoproteins and plasma membranes. They further suggest that LCAT normally reduces this excess lipid through a combination of direct and indirect effects.

Plasma lipoproteins in familial lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency: physical and chemical studies of low and high density lipoproteins.

LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS (LDL) AND HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS (HDL) FROM THE PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL LECITHIN: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency have been characterized by gel filtration, analytical ultracentrifugation, and gel electrophoresis, and their relative content of lipid and protein has been determined. The LDL of d 1.019-1.063 g/ml show marked heterogeneity. A subfraction of the LDL emerges from columns of 2% agarose gel with the void volume, has corrected flotation rates (S(f) degrees ) in the range of 20-400, and contains 4-10 times as much unesterified cholesterol, phosphatidylcholine, and triglyceride per mg protein as normal LDL. A major subfraction of the LDL emerges from the gel in the same general position as normal LDL, but exhibits somewhat higher flotation rates and contains 1.5-3 times as much unesterified cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine and 13 times as much triglyceride per mg protein. The HDL, shown to be heterogeneous in earlier studies, are mainly comprised of molecules which have flotation rates of F(1.20) 3-20, migrate in the alpha(1)-alpha(2) region on electrophoresis, and contain about 12 times as much unesterified cholesterol and 5 times as much phosphatidylcholine per mg protein as normal HDL. Smaller molecules are also detected, which have flotation rates of F(1.20) 0-3, migrate in the prealbumin region on electrophoresis, and contain only slightly more unesterified cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine per mg protein than normal HDL.

Plasma lipoproteins in familial lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency: structure of low and high density lipoproteins as revealed by elctron microscopy.

The low density lipoproteins (LDL) of d 1.019-1.063 g/ml of patients with familial lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency show marked heterogeneity when viewed with the electron microscope. At least two types of particles are present, one large and the other small. The large particles predominate in a LDL subfraction of large molecular weight isolated by gel filtration on 2% agarose gel. They appear to be flattened structures with diameters mainly in the range of 900-1200 A. The small particles predominate in a LDL subfraction of smaller molecular weight isolated by filtration on the same type of gel. They are 210-250 A in diameter and are similar to normal LDL in size and shape. The high density lipoproteins (HDL) also are heterogeneous. The majority of particles are disc-shaped structures 150-200 A in diameter. The discs are mainly present in stacks which have a periodicity of 50-55 A and a variable length. Each disc appears to be made up of a rosette of smaller globular units 50 A in diameter. The appearance of these large molecular weight HDL contrasts with that of normal HDL, which are 70-100 A in diameter and aggregate in monolayers that show hexagonal packing of particles. A small percentage of the patients' HDL consists of structures 45-60 A in diameter. These predominate in a smaller molecular weight HDL subfraction isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G200. The particles are present in monolayer aggregates but never form stacked structures similar to those seen in the large molecular weight HDL subfraction.

Plasma lipoproteins in familial lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency. Further studies of very low and low density lipoprotein abnormalities.

Plasma lipoproteins of d<1.006 g/ml, d 1.006-1.019 g/ml, and d 1.019-1.063 g/ml from patients with familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency yielded abnormal subfractions upon being separately filtered through 2% agarose gel. A subfraction that emerged with the void volume and contained unusually large amounts of unesterified cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine was present in each lipoprotein group, and in each group this subfraction was less prominent in the nonlipemic plasma of one patient than in the lipemic plasma of other patients. A subfraction containing smaller lipoproteins also was present in each lipoprotein group. These lipoproteins were of the same size as normal lipoproteins of the corresponding density, but contained abnormally small amounts of cholesteryl ester. The lipoproteins of 1.019-1.063 g/ml contained abnormal components of intermediate molecular weight as well as large and small abnormal components similar to those described previously. The intermediate components were more prominent in the nonlipemic plasma but were easily recognized in the hyperlipemic plasma as a peak of S(f) 20-30 in the analytical ultracentrifuge. Also they could be recognized, upon electron microscopy of the lipoproteins of d 1.019-1.063 g/ml, as particles 340-1000 A in diameter. The data suggest that related large, abnormal particles pervade the patients' very low and low density lipoproteins, and that the large particles are affected by, but are not dependent on, the lipemia that frequently accompanies the disease. The smaller very low and low density lipoproteins appear to be counterparts of lipoproteins present in normal plasma. Their abnormal composition is compatible with the possibility that lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase normally decreases the triglyceride and phosphatidylcholine and increases the cholesteryl ester of very low density and low density plasma lipoproteins in vivo.

Uptake and degradation of cholesterol ester-labelled rat plasma lipoproteins in purified rat hepatocytes and nonparenchymal liver cells.

1. A new method for isolation and purification of rat liver hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells by differential centrifugation is described. 2. Cholesterol ester-labelled lipoproteins (prepared by the action of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase) intravenously injected were taken up by hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells. 3. Hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells in suspension were able to take up and hydrolyse the cholesterol ester portion of lipoproteins. 4. Uptake of cholesterol ester labelled whole rat plasma and high density lipoproteins (HDL) increased with increasing concentrations until a distinct saturation level was reached in hepatocytes. In nonparenchymal cells there was no saturation of lipoprotein uptake. 5. Concanavalin A inhibited cholesterol ester-labelled lipoprotein uptake in hepatocytes, indicating that the uptake at least partially depends on carbohydrate sites on the cell surface. The uptake in nonparenchymal cells was unaffected of concanavalin A. 6. The specific activity of the acid cholesterol ester hydrolase was the same in homogenates from hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells while acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase was found almost exclusively in hepatocytes.

Intracellular localization and degradation of asialofetuin in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Analysis by isopycnic and differential centrifuging of the intracellular distribution of radioactivity following uptake of 125I-labelled asialofetuin by isolated rat hepatocytes showed that during incubations up to 1 h, most of the radioactivity was associated with structures which had a subcellular distribution pattern different from both the lysosomes and the plasma membrane. The latter two organelles were followed by means of enzyme markers. Ca2+ is necessary for the binding of asialofetuin to the plasma membrane, and it was also possible to differentiate between asialofetuin bound to the plasma membrane and that contained in intracellular structures by removing Ca2+ from the medium (by EGTA). Such experiments showed that asialofetuin became rapidly internalized. Practically all the labelled protein was located intracellularly in cells that had been incubated with asialofetuin for more than 30 min. When incubations were carried out for more than 1 h a peak appeared in the radioactivity distribution in the same place as the peak of activity of lysosomal marker enzymes. However, degradation of asialofetuin takes place in the lysosomes and this starts before the labelled protein can be found in the lysosomal fractions. Our data suggest that the rate-determining step in the cellular handling of asialofetuin is the transport of endocytized protein from the endocytic vesicles to the lysosomes.

Uptake and degradation of 125I-labelled high density lipoproteins in rat liver cells in vivo and in vitro.

1. The uptake of 125I-labelled high density lipoproteins (HDL) in various organs of the rat was determined after an intravenous injection. The uptake of 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone in the same organs was determined in order to assess uptake by fluid endocytosis. The uptake/organ was highest for the liver. The adrenals showed the highest uptake/unit weight of the organs studied. The liver, the kidneys and the spleen showed comparable values for uptake/g of tissue. The uptake of 125I-labelled HDL exceeded by far that of 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone in the liver, the kidneys, the spleen and the adrenals, indicating that the uptake of 125I-labelled HDL was mediated by adsorptive endocytosis. 2. The in vivo uptake of 125I-labelled HDL was determined in purified hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells prepared by collagenase perfusion of livers from animals after intravenous injections of 125I-labelled HDL. When expressed per cell, the hepatocytes and the non-parenchymal liver cells took up about the same amount of 125I-labelled HDL. 3. The in vitro uptake and degradation of 125I-labelled HDL in isolated rat hepatocytes was studied. The uptake at increasing concentrations of 125I-labelled HDL was saturable indicating uptake mediated through binding sites. 125I-labelled HDL were easily degraded by contaminating proteases from the perfusate. 4. Subcellular fractionation by isopycnic centrifugation indicated that the accumulation of 125I-labelled HDL did not take place in the lysosomes, but rather on the plasma membrane and possibly in the endosomes (phagosomes). 5. 125I-labelled HDL were internalized into the cells and degraded in the lysosomes. Leupetin and chloroquine, inhibitors of the lysosomal function effectively inhibited the formation of 125I-labelled acid-soluble radioactivity by the cells. Chloroquine, but not the protease inhibitor leupeptin, reduced the hydrolysis of the cholesteryl ester moiety of HDL.

The intracellular distribution of high density lipoproteins taken up by isolated rat hepatocytes.

The subcellular distribution of 125I-labelled HDL taken up by rat hepatocytes in vivo and in vitro has been studied with subcellular fractionation techniques: differential centrifugation and isopycnic centrifugation in sucrose gradients. 125I-labelled HDL bind to plasma membranes both in vivo and in vitro and part of the membrane-bound 125I-labelled HDL can be dissociated by the addition of unlabelled HDL. The hepatocytes also internalize 125I-labelled HDL. The 125I-labelled HDL accumulate, however, at different intracellular sites in the in vivo and in vitro situation. The subcellular distribution pattern of 125I-labelled HDL taken up by the cells in vivo is similar to that of the lysosomal marker enzyme acid phosphatase. Peak activity was found at a density of 1.20 g/ml. In vitro 125I-labelled HDL accumulate in an organelle with a medium density of about 1.13 g/ml. This distribution was similar to that of the plasma membrane marker 5'-nucleotidase. The subcellular distribution of radioactivity taken up in vivo was changed to lower density by incubating the cells with chloroquine, a drug known to render the lysosomes more boyant. Chloroquine had no effect on the distribution of 125I-labelled HDL taken up by hepatocytes in vitro.

Secretion of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase from isolated rat hepatocytes.

1. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase is secreted from isolated rat heptocytes. 2. The secretion is stimulated when serum is added to the incubation medium. 3. Optimal conditions for secretion are: 5-10(6) hepatocytes per ml, 5 h incubation, pH 7.3-7.4 and 25% serum in the incubation medium. 4. Concomitantly with the secretion of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase there is a secretion of unesterified cholesterol and triacylglycerol. 5. Colchicine or cycloheximide in the incubation medium inhibits secretion of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase.

Intracellular transport and degradation of 125I-Labelled denatured serum albumin in isolated nonparenchymal rat liver cells.

The intracellular movement, following uptake of 125I-labelled denatured serum albumin into nonparenchymal liver cells, was followed by means of subcellular fractionation. Isolated nonparenchymal rat liver cells were prepared by means of differential centrifugation. The cells were homogenized in a sonifier and the cytoplasmic extract subjected to isopycnic centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. The intracellular movement of the labelled albumin was followed by comparing the distribution profile of radioactivity in the sucrose gradient with those of marker enzymes for plasma membrane and lysosomes. The distribution profiles for radioactivity after the cells had been exposed to the labelled denatured albumin for different time periods indicated that the radioactivity was first associated with subcellular fractions of lower modal densities than the lysosomes. With time of incubation the radioactivity moved towards higher densities. After prolonged incubations in the absence of extracellular labelled denatured albumin the radioactivity peak coincided with that of the lysosomal marker beta-acetylglucosaminidase. When the cells were treated with the lysosomal inhibitor leupeptin, degradation of the labelled albumin was decreased, resulting in a massive intracellular accumulation of radioactivity. The radioactivity peak coincided with the peak of activity for the lysosomal marker beta-acetylglucosaminidase, suggesting lysosomal degradation.

Affinity chromatography of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas testosteroni. Use of N,N-dimethylformamide to prevent hydrophobic interactions between the enzyme and the ligand.

1. The 3alpha-hydroxysteroid: NAD+-oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.50) from Pseudomonas testosteroni (ATCC 11996) has been purified by affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B using glycocholic acid as ligand covalently bound through its carboxyl group to the ethylenediamine spacer. 2. The attachment of the enzyme to the substrate-containing matrix is greatly enhanced by the presence of NAD+ suggesting that this enzyme has a compulsory ordered mechanism where NAD+ binds to the enzyme before the steroid. 3. A NAD+-independent interaction between the enzyme and the ligand was also found. This interaction was mainly hydrophobic and interfered with the NAD+-dependent binding. The NAD+-independent interaction was reduced by N,N-dimethylformamide. 4. By using the affinity column in the presence of 10% N,N-dimethylformamide, highly purified enzyme, as judged from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, could be obtained in one step from crude bacterial extracts.

Uptake and degradation of 125I-labelled asialo-fetuin by isolated rat hepatocytes.

125I-Labelled asialo-fetuin was taken up by isolated rat hepatocytes by a saturable process. Half maximum uptake was seen at about 3 - 10(-8) M asialo-fetuin. Non-parenchymal liver cells did not take up asialo-fetuin in vitro. Rate of uptake of asialo-fetuin exceeded rate of degradation at all concentrations of asialo-fetuin tested. Asialo-fetuin consequently accumulated in the cells until the extracellular supply was exhausted. Asialo-fetuin degradation could be studied without concurrent uptake by incubating cells, previously exposed to asialo-fetuin, in asialo-fetuin-free medium. Degradation, as evidenced by increase in acid-soluble radioactivity, was inhibited by NH4Cl and chloroquine. The change with time in the intracellular distribution pattern of radioactivity in cells that had been exposed to 125I-labelled asialo-fetuin for 10 min was examined by means of differential centrifugation. Initially, the radioactivity was found mostly in the microsomal fraction. 60 min after the exposure to labelled protein, the distribution pattern of radioactivity resembled that of the lysosomal enzyme beta-acetylglucosaminidase. The possibility that asialo-fetuin digestion takes place in lysosomes is discussed.

Influence of diets on acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase and on acyl-CoA:retinol acyltransferase in villous and crypt cells from rat small intestinal mucosa and in the liver.

Cholesterol and retinol are both esterified with long-chain fatty acid within the mucosal cells of the small intestine. The reactions are catalyzed by microsomal acyl-CoA:cholesterol and acyl-CoA:retinol acyltransferases (EC 2.3.1.26, and EC 2.3.1.-, respectively). To gain more insight into the physiological importance of these acyltransferases, they were studied in villous and crypt cells from rats either fasting or on diets which varied in fat and cholesterol content. Both enzymes had a higher activity in villous than in crypt cells. The activities in villous cells varied with feeding and fasting and the composition of diet when the animals were killed postprandially. Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity went up upon cholesterol feeding whereas retinol acyltransferase in the mucosa was reduced by high-fat diets. The liver cholesterol acyltransferase activity varied with diet, it increased with both cholesterol and fat feeding, whereas retinol acyltransferase activity remained relatively constant. The results obtained suggest that different diets are of importance for cholesterol and retinol acyltransferase activities both in the intestinal mucosa and in the liver. The variation in activities of the two acyltransferases suggests that they may be different enzymes.

Lymphatic absorption and transport of retinol and vitamin D-3 from rat intestine. Evidence for different pathways.

The lymphatic absorption and transport of retinol and vitamin D-3 from rat intestine has been studied. When rats were cannulated in the intestinal lymph duct and given an intraduodenal bolus of [3H]retinol and 14C-labelled vitamin D-3, 14C-labeled vitamin D-3 appeared later in the intestinal lymph than [3H]retinol and the rate of absorption of vitamin D-3 was still maximal at a time when that of retinol had declined. Both vitamins were absorbed via the lymphatic route in association with chylomicrons. Almost all the retinol was esterified, while vitamin D-3 appeared in the chylomicrons as free vitamin D-3. In vitro incubations and in vivo studies using hepatectomized and normal rats showed that the retinyl ester was a relatively nonexchangeable component of the chylomicrons and their remnants. Hence, all the vitamin A followed the remnants in their clearance from plasma. In contrast, significant amounts of vitamin D-3 were transferred from the chylomicrons to other plasma fractions. Therefore, only a fraction of this vitamin may be removed in association with the chylomicron remnants.

Cultivation of HL-60 cells in a serum-free medium containing granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

In order to develop a defined cultivation medium for HL-60 cells, we cultivated these cells in a serum-free suspension medium and tested the effect of various growth factors. Of the factors tested, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor was most active in growth stimulation. A much lower effect was obtained with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and transferrin. No effect was found with interleukin-3 and insulin. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was the only growth factor tested that also induced differentiation as judged by the nitroblue tetrazolium test. Growth of HL-60 cells in medium containing granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (125 U/ml) and transferrin (5 micrograms/ml) as the only protein factors was similar to growth in medium containing 10% serum. No increase in spontaneous differentiation of HL-60 cells in this defined medium was observed. Physiological concentrations of retinol bound to retinol-binding protein and retinyl ester in chylomicron remnants reduced proliferation as well as the level of c-myc oncoprotein and induced differentiation of HL-60 cells cultivated in defined medium. Hence, this defined medium may be useful when studying the function of retinoids in HL-60 cells.

Retinyl ester storage is altered in liver stellate cells and in HL60 cells transfected with cellular retinol-binding protein type I.

It is suggested that cellular retinol-binding proteins are important for intracellular metabolism of retinol. Retinol bound to cellular retinol-binding proteins may be esterified with long chain fatty acids by the enzyme lecithin: retinol acyltransferase or may be oxidized to retinoic acid metabolites used in the mechanism of action of vitamin A. The aim of this present report was to determine whether altered levels of cellular retinol-binding protein type I influenced retinol storage and activation. Two different cell types have been examined after transfection with vectors producing sense or antisense mRNA for cellular retinol-binding protein type I. When HL60 cells were transfected with the expression vector for sense cellular retinol-binding protein type I high amounts of cellular retinol-binding protein type I mRNA and protein were produced. We observed that HL60 cells esterified less retinol than control cells without cellular retinol-binding protein type I. Cellular retinol-binding protein type I had, however, no effects on the proliferation or differentiation of HL60 cells by retinoids. Liver stellate cells transfected with the vector for sense cellular retinol-binding protein type I esterified more retinol than cells transfected with the expression vector for antisense cellular retinol-binding protein type I, while retinol esterification in control cells was intermediate. In conclusion, our data show that cellular retinol-binding protein type I influences retinol esterification both in liver stellate cells and in HL60 cells.

McCollum Award Lecture, 1992: vitamin A absorption, transport, cellular uptake, and storage.

We discuss vitamin A with emphasis on its absorption, transport, cellular uptake, storage, and intracellular metabolism. Dietary retinyl esters are hydrolyzed to retinol in the intestinal lumen before absorption by enterocytes. Carotenoids are absorbed and then partially converted to retinol in the enterocytes. In enterocytes retinol is esterified before incorporation into chylomicrons together with triacylglycerols. Chylomicrons reach the general circulation by way of the intestinal lymph, and chylomicron remnants are formed in the blood capillaries. The remnants, which contain almost all the absorbed retinol, are cleared by the liver parenchymal cells, and to some extent also by cells in blood, bone marrow, adipose tissue, and spleen. The uptake is most probably mediated via surface receptors for low-density lipoproteins or a low-density lipoprotein-receptor-related protein. In the liver parenchymal cells the retinyl esters are rapidly hydrolyzed to retinol, which binds to retinol-binding protein. Normally, most of the absorbed retinol coming into the liver parenchymal cell is transferred on retinol-binding protein to stellate cells, which store retinol as retinyl esters in lipid droplets.