Adipokines, inflammation, and visceral adiposity across the menopausal transition: a prospective study.

Context: Postmenopausal women have greater visceral adiposity compared with premenopausal women. Adipokines are associated with increased adiposity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess changes in adipokines and inflammatory markers through the menopausal transition and correlate them with changes in visceral adiposity.

Rosiglitazone increases LDL particle size and buoyancy and decreases C-reactive protein in patients with type 2 diabetes on statin therapy.

A substantial number of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) demonstrate a predominance of small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL), which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In some cases, sdLDL persists after treatment with a statin to reduce levels of LDL. The effect of the addition of a thiazolidinedione, rosiglitazone (RSG) (4 mg/day or 8 mg/day) to statin therapy on LDL phenotype and C reactive protein (CRP) levels was investigated in a 12- week, placebo-controlled study of 72 T2DM patients who were well controlled and on a statin, but who had persistently predominant sdLDL.

LDL composition in E2/2 subjects and LDL distribution by Apo E genotype in type 1 diabetes.

Apo E plays an important role in chylomicron and VLDL remnant processing, uptake or conversion to LDL. The type of lipoprotein that isolates in the LDL density of E2/2 subjects was investigated and the effect of the apo E isoforms on LDL mass was determined in all genotypes in a large group of Type 1 diabetics. Analysis of the LDL composition of E2/2 homozygotes (n=6) compared to subjects with the common E3/3 isoform (n=6) demonstrated an enrichment in apo E, unesterified cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride relative to apo B in E2/2 subjects, more typical of a dense IDL remnant than of LDL.

Lipoprotein lipase bound to apolipoprotein B lipoproteins accelerates clearance of postprandial lipoproteins in humans.

Objective: Experiments in cells and animal models show that lipoprotein lipase (LpL) bound to apolipoprotein (apo)B lipoproteins enhances their uptake by receptor mediated pathways. It is unknown whether this pathway is important in humans.

Methods And Results: ApoB lipoproteins with LpL were isolated from normal subjects after oral fat loading by immunoaffinity chromatography and were further separated into apoB100 and apoB48 lipoproteins.

Hepatic lipase mRNA, protein, and plasma enzyme activity is increased in the insulin-resistant, fructose-fed Syrian golden hamster and is partially normalized by the insulin sensitizer rosiglitazone.

Postheparin plasma hepatic lipase (HL) activity has been shown to correlate with features of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes in humans. We examined HL postheparin plasma enzyme activity, hepatocyte mRNA, and protein mass in the insulin-resistant, fructose-fed Syrian golden hamster, and the response of the insulin-sensitizing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist rosiglitazone. Male Syrian golden hamsters were treated for 5 weeks with 1) normal diet (DIET group), 2) 60% fructose diet (FRUC group), or 3) 60% fructose and rosiglitazone (20 mmol .

PLTP activity decreases with weight loss: changes in PLTP are associated with changes in subcutaneous fat and FFA but not IAF or insulin sensitivity.

Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity is elevated in obese and diabetic subjects. No prospective studies have examined the effect of weight loss on PLTP activity and assessed whether the resultant changes in activity are related to changes in body weight, insulin resistance, or both. PLTP activity was measured at baseline in 46 subjects (body mass index = 19-64 kg/m2) and after diet-induced weight loss in 19 of the obese subjects.

Selective and independent associations of phospholipid transfer protein and hepatic lipase with the LDL subfraction distribution.

Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), hepatic lipase (HL), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) have all been reported to be intricately involved in HDL metabolism but the effect of PLTP on the apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins relative to that of HL and LPL has not been established. Due to our previous observation of a positive correlation of PLTP activity with plasma apoB and LDL cholesterol, the relationship of PLTP with the LDL subfractions was investigated and compared with that of HL and LPL. Plasma lipoproteins from 50 premenopausal women were fractionated by density gradient ultracentrifugation.

Differences in reactivity of antibodies to active versus inactive PLTP significantly impacts PLTP measurement.

Due to conflicting reports concerning the relationship between phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity and mass in plasma, the protein concentration and activity of PLTP were assessed in fractions isolated by fast protein liquid chromatography from the plasma of healthy normolipidemic individuals. Using both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, PLTP was identified by Western blot analysis after both SDS and non-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and quantitated by dot blot. PLTP activity was determined using a labeled vesicle/HDL assay.