In vivo transient rise in plasma free fatty acids alters the functional properties of alpha-fetoprotein.

Previous in vitro studies have shown that unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) induce conformational changes in rodent and human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). To determine whether such changes in the binding and immunological properties of rat AFP also occur in vivo, plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations were increased in young male rats (15, 21 and 28 days old) by acute i.v. injection of heparin (200 IU/kg). Plasma estrogens (estrone and estradiol) did not change after injection of heparin. There was a large increase in plasma FFA 10-20 min post-heparin injection, with a return to normal 60 min later. This transient rise in FFA plasma was associated with a 50% drop (P less than 0.001) in the binding of estradiol to rat AFP of 15-, 21- and 28-day-old rats by reducing the number of binding sites (P less than 0.001), leaving the affinity constant (Ka) unchanged. FFA extracts from post-heparin plasma induced similar changes in estradiol binding to purified rat AFP. The rise in plasma FFA induced a loss of AFP immunoreactivity, in 21- (P less than 0.001) and 28-day-old rats (P less than 0.001), but not in 15-day-old rats. This age-dependent response correlated with the FFA/AFP molar ratio (38 in 15-day-old rats, 388 in 21-day-old rats, and 5600 in 28-day-old rats). These results indicate that an in vivo rise in FFA induces rapid and reversible conformational changes in AFP which may modulate the endocrine and immune function of this oncofetal protein.

Stimulation of the binding properties of adult rat corticosteroid-binding globulin by a lipolysis-induced rise in plasma free fatty acids.

In vitro studies have shown that FFA induce conformational changes in human corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). We increased the plasma FFA concentrations of adult male rats by injecting heparin to determine whether such changes in CBG binding and immunological properties also occur in vivo. The in vivo transient activation of lipase by heparin produced a large increase in plasma FFA at 10 and 20 min (P < 0.01), which was maximal at 60 min (P < 0.005) and remained elevated at 120 min (P < 0.01) postinjection. This rise in FFA was associated with a 2- to 3-fold increase in the binding indices (C values; liters per g) of corticosterone (B) and progesterone to CBG 60-120 min postinjection (P < 0.001). There was a good positive correlation (r = 0.85) between the increase in B binding and the rise in plasma FFA in heparin-treated rats. The enhanced B binding to CBG resulted from a 2-fold increase in the apparent number of binding sites, without any significant change in the affinity constant (Ka). FFA extracted from postheparin plasma and a standard FFA mixture induced similar changes in B binding to purified mature rat CBG. The immunological behavior of CBG was not significantly changed after heparin-induced lipolysis, but the immunoreactivity of CBG from heparin-treated rats was more reduced by incubation with exogenous FFA than that from controls. FFA extracted from the plasma of heparin-treated rats and a standard FFA mixture both produced a dose-dependent drop in the immunodetection of pure CBG. These binding and immunological studies indicate that FFA mediate conformational changes in rat CBG in vivo. Thus, FFA, in addition to their roles as metabolic energy sources and components of complex lipids, can be rapid potent endogenous modulators of steroid-protein interactions.

Interactions between phytoestrogens and human sex steroid binding protein.

The interactions of human Sex steroid binding protein (SBP) and the lignans [Nordihydrogaiaretic acid (NDGA) enterolactone (Ent), enterodiol (End)] and isoflavonoid phytoestrogens [Equol (Eq), diazein Dad), genistein (Gen)] were studied. The phytoestrogens had different dose-dependent inhibitory effects on steroid binding by SBP. Their relative efficiencies were: Ent> or = NDGA = Eq > Gen for displacing E2 and Eq > Ent > NDGA > Gen for displacing T. End and Dad were much less active. Scatchard analysis suggested that NDGA had similar non- competitive effects on T and E2 binding by reducing the number of binding sites without changing the association constants. But Eq seemed to inhibit E2 binding non-competitively and T binding competitively. NDGA binding to SBP reduced the immunorecognition of SBP by monospecific anti-SBP antibodies, suggesting that NDGA changed SBP immunoreactivity. Unlike NDGA, Eq binding to SBP caused no immunological changes in SBP, indicating qualitative differences in the effects of the lignan and isoflavonoid. Our results indicate that phytoestrogens may modulate the SBP activity and so influence the role of this protein in the delivery of hormonal information to sex steroid-dependent cells.

In vivo effect of free fatty acids on the specific binding of glucocorticosteroids to corticosteroid binding globulin and liver receptors in immature rats.

Stimulating lipase activity with heparin (200 IU/kg b.w.) increased the plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration of immature rats (15 days). The effect of this elevated FFA concentration on glucocorticoid binding to corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG), and liver cytosol glucocorticoid receptor (GR), was analyzed. The plasma FFA concentration increased 2-fold, 10 minutes (P < 0.001), 20 minutes (P < 0.01), and 60 minutes (P < 0.01) post-heparin. The corticosterone (B) and progesterone concentrations were unchanged 60 minutes post-injection. The binding activity of immature rat CBG for B dropped 50% (P < 0.001) 60 minutes post-heparin injection, decreased B binding and increased plasma FFA were correlated (r = -0.8). The decreased B binding resulted from a 2-fold decrease in the apparent number of CBG binding sites; the affinity constant (Ka) remained unchanged. The liver cytosol endogenous FFA content of immature rats was also increased 2-fold, 60 minutes after heparin-induced lipolysis. The increased cytosol FFA, with no significant change in glucocorticoid, was accompanied by a significant decrease in dexamethasone binding to liver cytosol glucocorticoid receptor. The decrease resulted from a significantly lower apparent Ka for dexamethasone and fewer receptor binding sites (n). There was a good inverse correlation between Ka (r = -0.93) and n (r = -0.90) and the increased liver cytosol FFA content. Thus the higher plasma FFA induced in vivo by lipase activation or a standard FFA mixture probably causes conformational changes in CBG and GR, reducing glucocorticoid binding to immature rat CBG and liver GR.

Fatty acid composition of an oral load affects chylomicron size in human subjects.

HDL-phospholipids are determinants in reverse cholesterol transport. They are mostly derived from triacylglycerol (TG)-rich lipoproteins. Chylomicron size is important, therefore, because it is related to the ratio surface phospholipids: core TG and, thus, determines the availability of postprandial phospholipids for transfer to HDL. Eleven healthy young women each ingested four different fat loads supplemented with retinyl palmitate and containing 60 g sunflower oil (SO), oleic-sunflower oil (OSO), mixed oil (MO; (g/kg) linoleic acid 480, oleic acid 380, linolenic acid 13) or beef tallow (BT). At the peak of TG absorption for all loads (4 h) chylomicron diameters, determined by agarose-gel filtration, were larger after SO compared with OSO (P < 0.05) and BT (P = 0.06) and after MO compared with BT (P < 0.05). At 6 h chylomicron size was larger after the vegetable oils compared with BT (P < 0.05 in each case). After each fat load chylomicron size decreased at 6 and 8 h compared with that at 4 h (P < 0.05) except for OSO. Retinyl ester and TG concentrations were lower in chylomicrons after BT than after the other fats but not in the chylomicron-free serum (containing chylomicron remnants), suggesting absorption in the form of very small particles. Compared with the fasting value, the concentration of the Svedberg unit of flotation 20-400 fraction, which contains VLDL and chylomicron remnants, was lower 8 h after MO, the only fat to contain significant amounts of linolenic acid. We conclude that chylomicron size is dependent on the fatty acid composition of ingested fats and the time-course of digestion, being larger for polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich fats and in the early phase of digestion. On the basis of retinyl ester concentration there were no differences between fats in chylomicron-remnant clearance.

High polyunsaturated fatty acid, thromboxane A2, and alpha-fetoprotein concentrations at the human feto-maternal interface.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) like arachidonic (C20:4) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6) acids are essential for harmonious fetal development. This study evaluates, at near term, the distributions of free fatty acids (FFA) and their fetal carrier protein, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the maternal (M) and fetal circulation (umbilical arteries (A) and vein (V)), focusing on the feto-material interface where maternal intervillous blood (I) contacts the fetal trophoblast. FFA concentrations in intervillous and maternal blood were similar, while those in umbilical arteries and vein were 2- to 4-fold lower (P < 0.001). There were more saturated FFA in umbilical vein (41%) and arteries (44%) blood than in maternal (30%) and intervillous (32%) blood (P < 0.001). Monounsaturated FFA predominated (P < 0.001) in maternal (43%) blood, but not in intervillous (35%), umbilical vein (33%) and arteries (31%) blood. Di-triunsaturated FFA were similar in intervillous and maternal (25%) blood and lower in umbilical vein and arteries (16%) (P < 0.001). PUFA were low in maternal (2.5%) blood and higher in intervillous and umbilical vein and arteries (9%, P < 0.001); consequently, C20:4 (40 microM) and C22:6 (16 microM) were the most abundant in the intervillous space. The AFP concentrations and AFP lectin-reactive isoforms were similar in intervillous and umbilical vein and arteries blood, but immuno-electrophoresis revealed a particular AFP conformation (less immuno-reactive, more anionic) in the intervillous space, suggesting that AFP is heavily loaded with PUFA at the feto-maternal interface. Prostacyclin derived from C20:4 was similar in all compartments but the thromboxane A2 concentration was 10-fold higher in intervillous blood than in maternal and umbilical vein and arteries blood. Thus the feto-maternal interface has a specific pattern of cell signalling molecules that might critically influence parturition.

Postprandial free fatty acids stimulate activity of human corticosteroid binding globulin.

The effect of postprandial variation of free fatty acids (FFA) on serum corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) properties and cortisol (hydrocortisone) concentrations were explored in 11 women (20-30 yr) during 8 h after an oral load of tallow (26% C16:0, 18% C18:0, and 43% C18:1), oleic-sunflower (oleic-SF; 73% C18:1), sunflower (SF; 67% C18:2), and mixed oil (MO; 39% C18:1 and 48% C18:2). Serum FFA increased little after SF and MO but more than doubled in the late postprandial period (6 and 8 h) after oleic-SF (due to monounsaturated FFA) or tallow (due to saturated and monounsaturated FFA). CBG concentrations remained unchanged, but in relation with the postprandial elevation of serum FFA, CBG binding activity was increased after tallow or oleic-SF as a result of a combined two- to threefold increase in affinity constant and a 50% reduction in binding sites. Immunological and in vitro binding studies showed the changes in CBG behavior to be conformational and to be mediated mainly by monounsaturated FFA, especially C18:1. The modifications of CBG properties were associated with sustained high concentrations of cortisol (suppression of midday decrease) 6 and 8 h after tallow or oleic-SF. Thus dietary FFA may have an impact on bioavailability of glucocorticoids.