Abstract 460: Characterization of Glycated Albumin Isolated From Poorly Controlled Diabetic Patients and Its Role in Macrophage Cholesterol Efflux

Abstract

Advanced glycation end products (AGE) are elevated in diabetes mellitus (DM) and predict the development of atherosclerosis. In vitro produced AGE-albumin induces oxidative stress that is linked to the reduction in ABCA-1 levels and cholesterol efflux mediated by apo A-I and HDL-subfractions, leading to macrophage cholesterol accumulation. We characterized the glycation level/profile of human serum albumin (HSA) isolated by fast protein liquid chromatography from poorly controlled type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) diabetes mellitus patients (HbA1c > 8%) in comparison to control (C) individuals, and how these AGE-albumin can interfere in macrophage lipid accumulation. The glycation level of HSA from C, DM1 and DM2 was analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry and was similar between DM1 and DM2-HSA. An increased mean mass was observed in DM1-HSA (68,544 ± 192 Da; n=6) and DM2-HSA (68,547 ± 132 Da; n=6) compared to C-HSA (67,846 ± 301 Da; n=6), reflecting the condensation of at least 8 and 5 units of glucose, respectively. The tryptic digestion of C-HSA generated a number of peptide species higher than those originated from DM1 and DM2-HSA. Macrophages isolated from peritoneal wild-type mice were treated for 18 h with C, DM1 or DM2-HSA in order to measure the 14C-cholesterol efflux and the mRNA expression of NOX-4 (NADPHoxidase4), ABCA-1 (Abca1) and ABCG-1 (Abcg1). Data were compared by one-way ANOVA and Dunnet′s post test. In comparison to cells treated with C-HSA the expression of NADPHoxidase4 (p<0.05; n=3) mRNA was increased after cell treatment with DM1 (3.2x) and DM2-HSA (0.7x), confirming oxidative stress. Abcg1 mRNA was reduced by DM2-HSA (26%; p<0.05; n=3); Abca1 mRNA was unchanged but ABCA-1 protein content was greatly reduced (82 and 25%, respectively in DM1 and DM2-HAS; p<0.05; n=12). The % of apo A-I mediated cholesterol efflux was impaired in DM1 (1.3 ± 0.3) and DM2-HSA-treated cells (2.4 ± 0.5) as compared to C-HSA (4.4 ± 0.5; n= 5; p<0.05). The level of advanced glycation that takes place in vivo was similar between DM1 and DM2-HSA and induced macrophage oxidative stress and impairment in cholesterol efflux that may contribute to atherogenesis in DM. Funding: FAPESP, Brazil (2012/19112-0)