Multivariate calibration for near-infrared spectroscopic assays of blood substrates in human plasma based on variable selection using PLS-regression vector choices

A multicomponent assay for the blood substrates of total protein, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and urea in human EDTA-plasma by FT-IR spectroscopy is described based on near-infrared spectra of human plasma recorded in a 1 mm quartz transmission cell. Partial least-squares was applied for multivariate calibration taking into account absorbance or logarithmized single beam spectra. Further data reduction was applied using the pairwise selection of spectral variables suggested by the weights of the optimum full spectrum PLS-regression vector. The standard errors of prediction for protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and urea are calculated by cross-validation for the population of 124 plasma samples of different patients. These values are compared for full spectrum and reduced spectral variable set regression. Received: 16 March 1998 / Accepted: 29 May 1998     

Multivariate calibration for near-infrared spectroscopic assays of blood substrates in human plasma based on variable selection using PLS-regression vector choices

A multicomponent assay for the blood substrates of total protein, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and urea in human EDTA-plasma by FT-IR spectroscopy is described based on near-infrared spectra of human plasma recorded in a 1 mm quartz transmission cell. Partial least-squares was applied for multivariate calibration taking into account absorbance or logarithmized single beam spectra. Further data reduction was applied using the pairwise selection of spectral variables suggested by the weights of the optimum full spectrum PLS-regression vector. The standard errors of prediction for protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and urea are calculated by cross-validation for the population of 124 plasma samples of different patients. These values are compared for full spectrum and reduced spectral variable set regression. Received: 16 March 1998 / Accepted: 29 May 1998     

Anion-exchange HPLC separation of five major rabbit lipoproteins using a nonporous diethylaminoethyl-ligated gel with a perchlorate-containing eluent

Rabbits are often used as experimental animals in studies of atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia. Although rabbit lipoproteins can be quantitated by sequential ultracentrifugation, a simpler and more reproducible method is desirable for detailed analyses. The current study describes a method to analyze rabbit lipoproteins in plasma by anion‐exchange high‐performance liquid chromatography using a column filled with nonporous, diethylaminoethyl‐ligated polymers. A solution of NaClO₄ was used to adjust the ionic strength of the eluent. The method required only 15 μL of plasma and analysis was completed in 23 min. Five lipoprotein fractions (high‐density lipoprotein, low‐density lipoprotein, intermediate‐density lipoprotein, very‐low‐density lipoprotein and chylomicrons) were eluted with step‐wise increases in a concentration of NaClO₄. The post‐column eluate was reacted with an enzymatic reagent to determine total cholesterol, and the lipoprotein‐cholesterol fraction was calculated according to relative peak areas in the chromatogram. The within‐day and between‐day assay coefficients of variation for lipoprotein cholesterol levels ranged between 0.436 and 7.143% and between 2.905 and 10.526%, respectively. Administering a high‐fat diet increased lipoprotein‐cholesterol concentrations by 6‐ to 77‐fold. The method described here was nevertheless able to quantitate levels of lipoprotein‐cholesterol in plasma samples from these rabbits. These results indicate that this method may be applied to lipoprotein studies using hyperlipidemic rabbit models. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Induction of hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase by cholesterol in vivo and in vitro

Cholesterol-rich diet impairs endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and enhances inducible NOS (iNOS) expression. In this study, we investigated effects of cholesterol on iNOS expression in high-fat-fed rat models, HepG2 and RAW264.7 cells. The high-fat diet increased the plasma total cholesterol level 6-7 fold and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (LDL-C) approximately 70 fold and slightly increased the level of lipid peroxidation as determined by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance assay. The high-fat diet also increased plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentrations up to 5 fold, and induced iNOS mRNA expression in liver. The contractile responses of the endothelium-denuded thoracic aortic rings to phenylephrine were significantly damaged in high-fat-fed rats when assessed by organ chamber study. Treatment with estrogen for 4 days failed to reduce iNOS expressions as well as aortic contractility, although it improved lipid profiles. In cultured HepG2 or murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells, 3 days treatment with either 25-hydroxycholesterol or 7-ketocholesterol induced iNOS mRNA expression, as determined by RT-PCR. Our data suggested that the chronic exposure of hepatocytes and macrophage cells to high concentration of cholesterol or oxysterols may induce iNOS expression and subsequent synthesis of NO, which may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.     

Hypertension does not stimulate the development of hypercholesterolemia or fatty liver induced by a high cholesterol/cholate diet in rats

A high cholesterol/cholate diet induced hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive control rats (WKY). However, in contrast to previous concepts, the levels of cholesterol ester, triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine in plasma as well as triacylglycerol in liver were higher in WKY than in SHR fed a normal diet. The high cholesterol/cholate diet elevated the levels of plasma cholesterol, plasma cholesterol ester and hepatic triacylglycerol, and the extent of elevation was significantly higher in WKY than in SHR. Increases both in monoene/saturated ratios, an indication of elevated delta 9-desaturase activity, and in linoleate/arachidonate ratios, a possible indication of impaired desaturation-elongation activity, were observed in hepatic and plasma lipids of both strains fed the high cholesterol/cholate diet. The increases in monoene/saturated ratios were similar in both strains, but the increases in the linoleate/arachidonate ratios were higher for the plasma cholesterol esters of WKY than of SHR. The n-6/n-3 ratios of plasma and hepatic lipids were higher in WKY than in SHR throughout the experiments. These diet-induced changes observed in hepatic and plasma lipids were not reflected in the aortic lipids. Thus, hypertension per se does not promote the development of hyperlipemia and fatty liver induced by a high cholesterol/cholate diet. Our results also suggest that the metabolism of polyenoic fatty acids is different between SHR and WKY.     

Micellar properties of quillaja saponin. 2. Effect of solubilized cholesterol on solution properties

The interaction between cholesterol and the surfactant quillaja saponin has been investigated by measuring the effect of cholesterol on surface and micellar properties of quillaja saponin solutions. The aggregation properties of cholesterol in water were studied using fluorescent probe methods, with results indicating that cholesterol alone does not form micelles in aqueous solution. However, surface tension, dye solubilization, and light scattering measurements show that cholesterol and saponin mixtures do form micelles at well-defined critical micelle concentrations (cmc). The cmc for saponin solutions saturated with cholesterol was generally higher than that for saponin alone, with the extent of the increase dependent on the source — and most likely the composition — of the saponin. The addition of salt decreases the cmc values, while temperature dependence of these values is more complex. Surface adsorption studies show that cholesterol preferentially adsorbs at the air/water interface, forming a closely-packed monolayer, but that saponin can partially displace the cholesterol at high saponin concentrations. Finally, the size, intrinsic viscosity and the aggregation number of the cholesterol/saponin micelles are larger than those of saponin micelles alone, with the radius of the micelles between 20 and 40% larger at 298 K. These results indicate that cholesterol most likely solubilizes within quillaja saponin micelles, and in the process has a substantial impact on the micelle structure and the energetics of micelle formation.     

Method development for the determination of 24S‐hydroxycholesterol in human plasma without derivatization by high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mode

We developed a highly sensitive and specific high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface to determine 24S‐hydroxycholesterol, a major metabolite of cholesterol formed by cytochrome P450 family 46A1, in human plasma without any derivatization step. Phosphate buffered saline including 1% Tween 80 was used as the surrogate matrix for preparation of calibration curves and quality control samples. The saponification process to convert esterified 24S‐hydroxycholesterol to free sterols was optimized, followed by liquid–liquid extraction using hexane. Chromatographic separation of 24S‐hydroxycholesterol from other isobaric endogenous oxysterols was successfully achieved with gradient mobile phase comprised of 0.1% propionic acid and acetonitrile using L‐column2 ODS (2 μm, 2.1 mm id × 150 mm). This assay was capable of determining 24S‐hydroxycholesterol in human plasma (200 μL) ranging from 1 to 100 ng/mL with acceptable intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy. The potential risk of in vitro formation of 24S‐hydroxycholesterol by oxidation from endogenous cholesterol in human plasma was found to be negligible. The stability of 24S‐hydroxycholesterol in relevant solvents and human plasma was confirmed. This method was successfully applied to quantify the plasma concentrations of 24S‐hydroxycholesterol in male and female volunteers.     

Steady-state detection of cholesterol contained in the plasma membrane of a single cell using lipid bilayer-modified microelectrodes incorporating cholesterol oxidase

Platinum microelectrodes modified with a lipid bilayer membrane incorporating cholesterol oxidase are used for detection of cholesterol contained in the plasma membrane of a single cell. Amperometric responses are consistent with enzymatic catalysis being rate limiting and cholesterol diffusing laterally in the plasma membrane to the electrode contact site. Importantly, electrode response appears to correlate with the cholesterol content of the cell plasma membrane. The electrodes should be useful for characterizing cellular cholesterol tracking pathways involved in pathogenesis of disease.     

Simultaneous assay of the activities of two key enzymes in cholesterol metabolism by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A very sensitive and specific method for the simultaneous assay of the activities of two key regulatory enzymes in cholesterol metabolism, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (EC 1.1.1.34), and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.7), is described. The assay is based on the measurement of [2H3]mevalonolactone and 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol produced by the incubation of [2H3]HMG-CoA and endogenous cholesterol with hamster liver microsomes using isotope dilution mass spectrometry. The incubation mixture was purified by means of solid extraction cartridges, and the extract was treated with benzylamine followed by dimethylethylsilyl imidazole. The resulting ether derivatives of the mevalonylbenzylamide and 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring in a high resolution mode. The method made it possible to assay simultaneously the activities of HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase in hamster liver microsomes with high sensitivity and accuracy.     

Spectrofluorimetric assay for acyl CoA-cholesterol acyltransferase

A sensitive assay for acyl CoA-cholesterol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.26) in rat liver microsomal and mitochondrial preparations is described. The lowered cholesterol concentration in the enzyme reaction with oleoyl CoA is determined spectrofluorimetrically by using the cholesterol oxidase/peroxidase/p-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid system. The assay requires as little as 20 μg of protein in the enzyme preparation.     

The validation of a simple LC/MS/MS method for determining the level of mevalonic acid in human plasma

A simple plasma extraction method coupled with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) detection was developed and validated for the analysis of endogenous mevalonic acid (MVA), a biomarker indicative of the rate of cholesterol biosynthesis, in human plasma samples. The analyte was extracted from the plasma matrix using a straightforward liquid–liquid sample preparation procedure. The extract supernatants were evaporated, reconstituted in aqueous solvent and injected into the LC/MS/MS system without further processing. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography column. The accuracy and precision of the method was determined over the concentration range 0.25–25 ng/mL MVA from human plasma extracts in three validation batch runs. Inter‐assay precision (%CV) and accuracy (%RE) of the quality control samples were ≤7.00% (at lower limit quality control) and ≤6.10%, respectively. The sensitivity and throughput of this assay was significantly improved relative to previously published methods, resulting in smaller sample requirements and shorter analysis time. Assay results from a clinical study following the oral administration of an exploratory statin demonstrate that this procedure could potentially be used in the investigation of therapies associated with hypercholesterolemia. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

膳食纤维降血脂作用及其机制的研究进展

综述了近年膳食纤维降脂作用及其机制的研究进展.膳食纤维能使血清中胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白水平降低,高密度脂蛋白水平升高.其主要机制为通过减少膳食中胆固醇的吸收、影响机体中胆固醇的代谢、促进胆固醇的排泄等降低血浆中胆固醇水平;通过增加食物在肠道内的过渡时间、延缓胃排空、减缓或降低脂肪的吸收等机制降低血浆中甘油三酯水...     

Examining the levels of ganglioside and cholesterol in cell membrane on attenuation the cytotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide

The deposition of beta-amyloid (Abeta) on cell membranes is considered as one of the primary factors in having Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have suggested that certain components of plasma membrane, ganglioside and cholesterol could accelerate the accumulation of Abeta on the plasma membranes. However, the effect of cholesterol and ganglioside (GM1) on Abeta cytotoxicity is still a controversial issue. The aim of this study is to understand the roles of GM1 and cholesterol in AD by using PC12, a neuron-like cell. The effects of the sequence, conformation, and concentration of Abeta on cytotoxicity were also investigated. Monomeric Abeta could attack the plasma membrane resulting in cytotoxicity, however, fibrillar Abeta was found to be less toxic. Our results showed that Abeta (1-40) was more toxic than Abeta (25-35) and the cytotoxicity of Abeta was proportional to its concentration. Besides, the depletion of GM1 from plasma membrane, it would block the Abeta-induced cytotoxicity. Decreasing the cholesterol level by around 30% could attenuate the cytotoxicity of Abeta. These findings validate our idea that the cholesterol could stabilize the lateral pressure derived from the formation of GM1-Abeta complex on the membrane surface. Furthermore, both GM1 and cholesterol are essential in mechanism of Abeta accumulation and could modulate the cytotoxicity of monomeric Abeta.     

Plasma polymerization of cyano compounds

Plasma polymerizations of three cyano compounds—acrylonitrile (AN), 1,2-dicyanoethylene (FN), and tetracyanoethylene (TCE)—were investigated by FT IR and XPS, and the transforamtion of cyano groups during the plasma polymerization was discussed. The results pointed out an aspect of the preparation of plasma films with cyano groups. Plasma polymerizations of AN, FN, and TCE deposited brown or dark brown films that contained carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. The elemental composition of the plasma films, especially N/C atomic ratio, showed a monomer dependence but no rf power dependence. The plasma films contained amide and amino groups, and ketene-imine and conjugated — C = N — structures as well as cyano groups as nitrogen functionalities, and carbonyl and carboxyl groups as oxygen functionalities. For the preparation of plasma films with cyano groups, compounds with more than two cyano groups themselves are not suitable as monomers. The operation of plasma polymerization under mild plasma conditions at low rf power and in no oxygen atmosphere is favorable for the preparation of plasma films with cyano groups. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Plasma non-cholesterol sterols.

Increased levels of plasma sterols other than cholesterol can serve as markers for abnormalities in lipid metabolism associated with clinical disease. Premature atherosclerosis and xanthomatosis occur in two rare lipid storage diseases, Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) and sitosterolemia. In CTX, cholestanol is present in all tissues. In sitosterolemia, dietary campesterol and sitosterol accumulate in plasma and red blood cells. Plasma accumulation of oxo-sterols is associated with inhibition of bile acid synthesis and other abnormalities in plasma lipid metabolism. Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis is associated with plasma appearance of precursor sterols. The increases in non-cholesterol sterols, while highly significant, represent only minor changes in plasma sterols, which require capillary gas-liquid chromatography and MS for effective detection, identification and quantification.     

Lack of effect of oral supplementation with antioxidants on cholesterol oxidation product concentration of human plasma,as revealed by an improved gas chromatography method

A gas chromatographic method was successfully applied to determine cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) in human plasma. The linearity, precision, recovery and sensitivity of the method were determined. Oral supplementation with a combination of vitamin E (800 IU), C (1 g) and β-carotene (24 mg), given for 21 days to 21 patients, did not significantly decrease plasma COP content. No correlations (n = 26) were found between initial plasma COP content and the following parameters: age, body mass index, plasma content of α-tocopherol, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, and fat, natural antioxidant and oxidized lipid intake. Differences in plasma COP content between type 2 diabetic (n = 6) and nondiabetic (n = 20) patients were not statistically significant. The results from this study lead us to hypothesize that the nonenzymatic oxidation of cholesterol in plasma is negligible compared to COPs originating from the diet. This article also includes a comprehensive review of the drawbacks of the analytical methods of COP determination in plasma and serum.     

Determination of Penicillium griseofulvum‐oriented pyripyropene A,a selective inhibitor of acyl‐coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase 2, in mouse plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

In this study, we developed a method for the determination of Penicillium griseofulvum‐oriented pyripyropene A (PPPA), a selective inhibitor of acyl‐coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase 2, in mouse and human plasma and validated it using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Pyripyropene A (PPPA) and an internal standard, carbamazepine, were separated using a Xterra MS C18 column with a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase. The ion transitions monitored in positive‐ion mode [M + H]⁺ of multiple‐reaction monitoring (MRM) were m/z 148.0 from m/z 584.0 for PPPA and m/z 194.0 from m/z 237.0 for the internal standard. The detector response was specific and linear for PPPA at concentrations within the range from 1 to 5,000 ng/mL. The intra?/inter‐day precision and accuracy of the method was acceptable by the criteria for assay validation. The matrix effects of PPPA ranged from 97.6 to 104.2% and from 93.3 to 105.3% in post‐preparative mouse and human plasma samples, respectively. PPPA was also stable under various processing and/or handling conditions. Finally, PPPA concentrations in the mouse plasma samples could be measured after intravenous, intraperitoneal, or oral administration of PPPA, suggesting that the assay is useful for pharmacokinetic studies on mice and applicable to human studies.     

Fast Electroenzymatic Measurement of Total Cholesterol in Serum

Abstract

An electrochemical method for a rapid assay of total cholesterol in serum using free cholesterol oxidase (EC 1.1.3.6) and cholesterol esterase (EC 3.1.1.13) is described. Hydrogen peroxide generated by cholesterol oxidase is amperometrically monitored at + 650 mV vs Ag/AgCl and two types of responses can be recorded : a steady-state response and a dynamic one. The dynamic response is obtained within one minute. Interfering species are detected prior measurement and a linear calibration curve can be obtained for total cholesterol in the sample in the range 0.4-8 mM useful for clinical analysis.     

Determination of platinum in ores by a combined fire assay—X-ray fluorescence method

A combined fire assay—x-ray fluorescence procedure for the determination of platinum in ores is described. Silver beads obtained by cupellation in the classical fire assay process are flattened to constant thickness before placement in the x-ray beam. A standard plot of platinum—silver intensity ratio versus platinum concentration is used to measure the platinum content of ore samples.     

Screening phosphatidylcholine biomarkers in mouse liver extracts from a hypercholesterolemia study using ESI-MS and chemometrics

When fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFD), homozygous LDL receptor knockout mice exhibit extremely high levels of plasma cholesterol that are expected to influence liver metabolism. One step in the investigation of potential hepatic alterations was the analysis of organic extracts of livers from these and control mice by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Chemometrics (bioinformatics) analysis shows that the sample spectra cluster into two groups: one from mice with plasma cholesterol levels in excess of 900 mg dL⁻¹ and one from animals with cholesterol levels of 60–250 mg dL⁻¹. The loadings plot of the first PC in the principal-components analysis (PCA) reveals the chemical basis for clustering, i.e., biomarkers present at different concentrations in the different groups. The exact masses of the key peaks in this loadings plot indicate these species are phosphatidylcholines (PtdChos). This assignment is confirmed by tandem MS. Partial least-squares (PLS) with variable selection shows that the spectra are well correlated with plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) levels.