Radioimmunoassay for human plasma apolipoprotein B.

We have developed a simplified double antibody radioimmunoassay for human apolipoprotein beta. The purified antigen, a narrow density subclass of beta lipoprotein (d 1.030-1.050 g/ml; was isolated by a combination of gel filtration and ultracentrifugationmthis material gave a single immunoprecipitin arc on crossed immunoelectrophoresis into an antibody to whole human serum. The antigen was radiolabelled using iodine monochloride at pH 10. The iodinated antigen was indistinguishable immunochemically from native material and eluted as a single radioactive peak from a Sephadex G-200 column. The lower limit of sensitivity of the assay was 15 ng protein, and the working range, 15-200 ng. The mean apolipoprotein B level (+/-1 S.D.) in 128 healthy control subjects was 86.6 +/- 29.6 mg/100ml and is in agreement the values published by other workers using unmodified assays.

Radioiodination of human low density lipoprotein: a comparison of four methods.

A comparison has been made of four labelling techniques used to radioiodinate human low density lipoprotein (LDL). (1) Chloramine T iodination at pH 7.4 was 20-25% efficient and gave a product immunologically indistinguishable from native LDL. Approximately 30% of the incorporated radioactivity, however, was found in LDL lipids, and the metabolic decay of the labelled complex in rats did not obey first order kinetics. Radiolabelling at pH 10 reduced the uptake of 125I into lipids to 10% but also cut the overall incorporation of radioiodine by a factor of 7. (2) Lactoperoxidase labelling and (3) conjugation with iodinated N-succinimidyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate were highly efficient (100%), but incorporation of radioactivity into the lipid moiety was unacceptably high (approximately 30%). (4) The efficiency of iodine monochloride labelling was highly reproducible and the product was immunologically indistinguishable from native LDL. Incorporation of radioactivity into the lipid moiety was less than 4% when the I/protein ratio of the product was kept at or below 1 : 1. Decay of the radiolabelled LDL in rats was monoexponential.

Effect of clofibrate on the composition of very low and low density lipoprotein subfractions in type III hyperlipoproteinaemia.

The effect of clofibrate on the lipid and protein composition of very low and low density lipoprotein subfractions (VLDL of SF greater than 100, 60-100 and 20-60; LDL of Sf 10.4-20, 5.7-12 and 3.5-6.5), was investigated in 6 patients with type III hyperlipoproteinaemia (HLP). After four weeks of therapy significant reductions occurred in the concentration of cholesterol in each VLDL fraction, and of triglycerides in Sf greater than 100 and Sf 60-100 VLDL. No changes were found in the concentrations of apolipoprotein B or of the total tetramethylurea (TMU) soluble proteins, but in four patients in whom polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis of the TMU soluble proteins was carried out, it was found that arginine-rich peptide (ARP) had largely disappeared on therapy. These findings would be in keeping with increased catabolism of VLDL in response to clofibrate. No significant changes were observed in LDL lipid or protein concentrations.

Electrophoretic mobility in agarose of very low density lipoprotein subfractions in type III hyperlipoproteinaemia.

The electrophoretic mobilities in agarose gel of the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) subfractions of Sf greater than 100, 60-100 and 20-60 from six subjects with type III hyperlipoproteinaemia (HLP) have been compared with those from eight normal volunteers. In type III HLP beta or near-beta (slower VLDL) electrophoretic mobility was not necessarily confined to the VLDL fraction of Sf 20-60 in which it may normally be detected.

The composition of low (LDL) and very low (VLDL) density lipoprotein subfractions in type III hyperlipoproteinaemia: comparison with normal subjects.

The lipid and protein composition of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions (Sf greater than 100, 60--100 and 20--60 VLDL and Sf 10.4--20, 5.7--12 and 3.5--6.5 LDL) in six subjects with type III hyperlipoproteinaemia (HLP) was compared to that of 12 normal subjects. In type III HLP all VLDL subfractions contained increased concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides and were relatively enriched in cholesterol. VLDL of Sf 20--60 also contained and increased concentration of B-protein. The tetramethylurea (TMU) soluble apolipoproteins of the VLDL subfractions were separated by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. In the subjects with type III HLP the proportion of arginine rich protein (ARP) was increased in all subfractions. The concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides were increased in the LDL subfraction of Sf 10.4--20 and cholesterol was decreased in LDL of Sf 5.7--12, but the ratios of cholesterol to triglycerides were not significantly different from those in the LDL subfractions of the normal subjects and the protein composition was also similar. These results provide further evidence that in type III HLP abnormalities are not confined to the stage of conversion of VLDL to LDL, but occur throughout the VLDL spectrum.

Electroformed grazing incidence x-ray mirrors for a mirror array telescope.

Grazing incidence Wolter type I mirrors for higher-energy x rays have been replicated from two superpolished mandrels by electroforming. Single mirrors and a nested pair were tested with 1.5- and 6.4-keV x rays, and their subminute of arc resolution and reflectivity close to the theoretical values are confirmed. We present the design of the mandrels, mirror mounting scheme, and results of the x-ray test. The microroughnesses of the mirrors measured using an optical profilometer were compared with the x-ray test results.

Acipimox in combination with low dose cholestyramine for the treatment of type II hyperlipidaemia.

1. This study was designed to examine the effects of acipimox 250 mg three times daily and cholestyramine 4 g three times daily on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in 28 hypercholesterolaemic individuals in a prospective double-blind placebo controlled parallel group fashion. 2. Combined treatment with the two agents produced a mean reduction of 27% in plasma total cholesterol and a 32% fall in LDL cholesterol. Plasma triglyceride was reduced by 13% due to a 38% decrement in VLDL cholesterol. 3. In comparison treatment with cholestyramine alone resulted in a 12% fall in plasma cholesterol and a 15% fall in LDL cholesterol. In this group triglycerides and VLDL showed no significant change. 4. Studies of HDL subfraction mass showed that the addition of acipimox to resin therapy produced a mean increment of 45% in HDL2. 5. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of such a well tolerated low dosage combination therapy.

Metabolism of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in subjects with nephrotic-range proteinuria.

Although hyperlipidemia is a well recognized complication of the nephrotic syndrome, the precise disturbances of lipoprotein metabolism which cause the elevated plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations have not been clearly defined in humans. This study examines the metabolism of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria and in healthy controls. Two radioiodinated tracers of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL1, Sf60 to 400, and VLDL2, Sf20 to 60), were used to trace the metabolism of apolipoprotein B through the delipidation cascade from very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) to low density lipoproteins (LDL). The data from the apoB specific radioactivity curves and the pool sizes of apoB in four subfractions were analyzed by a multicompartmental modeling procedure using the SAAM 30 program. The main findings in the nephrotic group were: 1.) a consistent decrease in the fractional rate of apoB transfer from VLDL1----VLDL2 (median values-nephrotic 0.92 pools/day vs. controls 3.66, P less than 0.02) and from VLDL2----IDL (1.49 vs. 2.74, P less than 0.05); 2.) increased secretion of apoB into VLDL2 (14.5 mg/kg/day vs. 4.2, P less than 0.02); 3.) a trend towards decreased removal of IDL and LDL attributable to a defect in LDL receptor-mediated removal as previously shown (Metabolism 39:187-192, 1990). These findings suggest that catabolic defects of the apo B-containing lipoproteins are as important as increased hepatic synthesis in the pathogenesis of nephrotic hyperlipidemia in humans.