Cholesterol-containing Diet Research Articles

Physiological Properties of Dietary Ellagitannin-Rich Preparations Obtained from Strawberry Pomace Using Different Extraction Methods

Abstract The objective of this study was to establish the composition of strawberry preparations rich in ellagitannins obtained using water or acetone extraction (EF and EP preparation, respectively). Then, biological effect of these extracts was assessed in 4-wk nutritional experiment on Wistar rats. The preparations were applied in cholesterol-containing diets that had equal content of ellagitannins (0.03%). To measure animals response, parameters describing the caecal fermentation (ammonia and short-chain fatty acid concentrations, bacterial enzymes activity), blood serum lipoprotein profile, and TBARS content in selected tissues (heart, liver, kidney) were assessed. Apart from polyphenols, including ellagitannins (7.8 and 7.1%, respectively), the EF preparation contained high quantities of soluble dietary fibre and other carbohydrates (33.3 and 38.9%, respectively), whereas the EP preparation was characterised by 58.9% content of ellagitannins, no dietary fibre and a high content of proanthocyanidins (16.9%). In comparison to EF group, the dietary treatment with EP had a stronger effect on caecal environment as manifested by decreased digesta bulk, β-glucuronidase activity and total short-chain fatty acid concentration (P<0.05 vs. group C without supplementation). Both preparations lowered lipaemia and glycaemia. It could be concluded that more efficient acetone extraction of strawberry pomace increased the content of both ellagitannins and proanthocyanidins in the polyphenolic preparation, which caused a stronger inhibiting effect on caecal fermentation processes and at the same time lowered blood triacylglycerols and glucose level. Considering the equal content of ellagitannins in both supplemented diets, it may be speculated that the above effects were due to the presence of proanthocyanidin fraction.

Splenic autonomic denervation increases inflammatory status but does not aggravate atherosclerotic lesion development.

The brain plays a prominent role in the regulation of inflammation. Immune cells are under control of the so-called cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex, mainly acting via autonomic innervation of the spleen. Activation of this reflex inhibits the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and may reduce the development of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of selective parasympathetic (Px) and sympathetic (Sx) denervation of the spleen on inflammatory status and atherosclerotic lesion development. Female APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, a well-established model for human-like lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, were fed a cholesterol-containing Western-type diet for 4 wk after which they were subdivided into three groups receiving either splenic Px, splenic Sx, or sham surgery. The mice were subsequently challenged with the same diet for an additional 15 wk. Selective Px increased leukocyte counts (i.e., dendritic cells, B cells, and T cells) in the spleen and increased gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the liver and peritoneal leukocytes compared with Sx and sham surgery. Both Px and Sx increased circulating proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. However, the increased proinflammatory status in denervated mice did not affect atherosclerotic lesion size or lesion composition. Predominantly selective Px of the spleen enhances the inflammatory status, which, however, does not aggravate diet-induced atherosclerotic lesion development.

Abstract 164: Identification of Genetic Regulators of the Atherosclerosis-Associated Metabolite Trimethylamine-N-Oxide in the Diversity Outbred Mice Population

Dietary choline and its derivatives have been associated with various aspects of lipid metabolism. Recently, the choline metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been associated with atherosclerosis in both mice and humans. Traditional studies of atherosclerosis in mice use genetic or dietary manipulation to induce atherosclerosis in inbred mouse strains. However, traditional quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies using inbred strains often identify large genomic regions, containing many genes, due to limited recombination and/or sample size which hamper candidate gene identification and translation of these results into possible risk factors and therapeutic targets. As an alternative approach, here we use the multi-parental Diversity Outbred (DO) mouse panel for genetic mapping in order to aid in the identification of causal genes and variants associated with TMAO and its precursor choline. We fed DO mice either a high-fat, cholesterol-containing (HFCA) diet or a low-fat, high-protein diet for 18 weeks and measured circulating metabolites at baseline and after diet. Among our highly significant loci, we detected a 4.6 Mb QTL interval on Chromosome 12 (LOD = 10.0, p<0.05) associated with plasma concentrations of the metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide at baseline, containing 116 genes; the same QTL was also identified after dietary treatment (LOD= 6.7, p<0.1). By using a database of mouse gene expression and measuring gene expression in the eight progenitor strains by RNA-Sequencing, we identified three potential candidate genes, including the positional candidate gene Numb, which encodes a clathrin adapter with a role in endocytosis that was recently shown to modulate intestinal cholesterol absorption. We show that TMAO and Numb exhibit inverse strain variation across the DO founder strains and that the novel Chromosome 12 TMAO locus co-localizes with a highly significant cis-expression QTL for Numb, indicating a potential functional relationship.

Hypocholesterolemic effects of Balangu (Lallemantia royleana) seeds in the rabbits fed on a cholesterol-containing diet.

Lallemantia royleana (Benth. in Wall.) Benth. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant used in Iranian traditional and folklore medicine in the treatment of various nervous, hepatic, and renal diseases. In the present study, whole seeds of the herb were prepared and evaluated for hypolipidemic activities using an animal model. Animals were fed normal diets or diets supplemented with cholesterol (0.5%) for 12 weeks to evoke hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, hypercholesterolemic animals were treated with different doses of whole seeds of Balangu (0, 5, 10, and 20%) for 12 weeks. Results showed that the serum total cholesterol and triglyceride decreased in all groups treated with Balangu seeds p<0.05. Changes in the distribution of cholesterol in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were found. LDL-C and HDL-C decreased significantly in all of the groups treated with whole seeds of the herb with respect to hypercholesterolemic group p<0.05. Our results showed that L. royleana seeds decreased the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hypercholesterolemic animals but led to the increase of atherogenic index in all treated groups.

Dietary cholesterol atherogenic changes in juvenile rabbits.

Atherosclerotic lesion formation starts during fetal development and progresses with age after adolescence. However, atherogenesis during the juvenile period has not been studied thoroughly. In this study, we examined the atherogenic susceptibility of juvenile rabbits to cholesterol feeding. Male New Zealand White rabbits aged 8 (younger group) and 12 (older group) weeks were fed a 0.5% cholesterol-containing diet for 8 weeks, and then their aortic atherosclerotic lesion areas were evaluated. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids did not differ between the two groups; however, plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were 23% lower in the younger than in the older group. Atherosclerotic lesion areas were significantly larger in the younger group (32±21%). However, only moderate changes were observed in these areas in the older group (3.3±0.3%). Histological examination showed marked intimal thickening and macrophage accumulation in the aortic lesions of rabbits in the younger group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that dietary cholesterol-induced atherogenic changes markedly occur during a short period in juvenile rabbits.

Mirtoselect, an anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract, attenuates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and associated fibrosis in ApoE∗3Leiden mice

Anthocyanins may have beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and inflammation and are demonstrated to have hepatoprotective properties in models of restraint-stress- and chemically-induced liver damage. However, their potential to protect against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) under conditions relevant for human pathogenesis remains unclear. Therefore, we studied the effects of the standardised anthocyanin-rich extract Mirtoselect on diet-induced NASH in a translational model of disease. ApoE(∗)3Leiden mice were fed a Western-type cholesterol-containing diet without (HC) or with 0.1% (w/w) Mirtoselect (HCM) for 20weeks to study the effects on diet-induced NASH. Mirtoselect attenuated HC-induced hepatic steatosis, as observed by decreased macro- and microvesicular hepatocellular lipid accumulation and reduced hepatic cholesteryl ester content. This anti-steatotic effect was accompanied by local anti-inflammatory effects in liver, as demonstrated by reduced inflammatory cell clusters and reduced neutrophil infiltration in HCM. On a molecular level, HC diet significantly induced hepatic expression of pro-inflammatory genes Tnf, Emr1, Ccl2, Mpo, Cxcl1, and Cxcl2 while this induction was less pronounced or significantly decreased in HCM. A similar quenching effect was observed for HC-induced pro-fibrotic genes, Acta2 and Col1a1 and this anti-fibrotic effect of Mirtoselect was confirmed histologically. Many of the pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic parameters positively correlated with intrahepatic free cholesterol levels. Mirtoselect significantly reduced accumulation and crystallisation of intrahepatic free cholesterol, providing a possible mechanism for the observed hepatoprotective effects. Mirtoselect attenuates development of NASH, reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation and fibrosis, possibly mediated by local anti-inflammatory effects associated with reduced accumulation and crystallisation of intrahepatic free cholesterol.

High-resolution genetic mapping in the diversity outbred mouse population identifies Apobec1 as a candidate gene for atherosclerosis.

Inbred mice exhibit strain-specific variation in susceptibility to atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia that renders them useful in dissecting the genetic architecture of these complex diseases. Traditional quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies using inbred strains often identify large genomic regions, containing many genes, due to limited recombination and/or sample size. This hampers candidate gene identification and translation of these results into possible risk factors and therapeutic targets. An alternative approach is the use of multiparental outbred lines for genetic mapping, such as the Diversity Outbred (DO) mouse panel, which can be more informative than traditional two-parent crosses and can aid in the identification of causal genes and variants associated with QTL. We fed 292 female DO mice either a high-fat, cholesterol-containing (HFCA) diet, to induce atherosclerosis, or a low-fat, high-protein diet for 18 wk and measured plasma lipid levels before and after diet treatment. We measured markers of atherosclerosis in the mice fed the HFCA diet. The mice were genotyped on a medium-density single-nucleotide polymorphism array and founder haplotypes were reconstructed using a hidden Markov model. The reconstructed haplotypes were then used to perform linkage mapping of atherosclerotic lesion size as well as plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and glucose. Among our highly significant QTL we detected a ~100 kb QTL interval for atherosclerosis on Chromosome 6, as well as a 1.4 Mb QTL interval on Chromosome 9 for triglyceride levels at baseline and a coincident 22.2 Mb QTL interval on Chromosome 9 for total cholesterol after dietary treatment. One candidate gene within the Chromosome 6 peak region associated with atherosclerosis is Apobec1, the apolipoprotein B (ApoB) mRNA-editing enzyme, which plays a role in the regulation of ApoB, a critical component of low-density lipoprotein, by editing ApoB mRNA. This study demonstrates the value of the DO population to improve mapping resolution and to aid in the identification of potential therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease. Using a DO mouse population fed an HFCA diet, we were able to identify an A/J-specific isoform of Apobec1 that contributes to atherosclerosis.

PPARδ activation attenuates hepatic steatosis in Ldlr−/− mice by enhanced fat oxidation, reduced lipogenesis, and improved insulin sensitivity

PPARδ regulates systemic lipid homeostasis and inflammation, but its role in hepatic lipid metabolism remains unclear. Here, we examine whether intervening with a selective PPARδ agonist corrects hepatic steatosis induced by a high-fat, cholesterol-containing (HFHC) diet. Ldlr(-/-) mice were fed a chow or HFHC diet (42% fat, 0.2% cholesterol) for 4 weeks. For an additional 8 weeks, the HFHC group was fed HFHC or HFHC plus GW1516 (3 mg/kg/day). GW1516-intervention significantly attenuated liver TG accumulation by induction of FA β-oxidation and attenuation of FA synthesis. In primary mouse hepatocytes, GW1516 treatment stimulated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation in WT hepatocytes, but not AMPKβ1(-/-) hepatocytes. However, FA oxidation was only partially reduced in AMPKβ1(-/-) hepatocytes, suggesting an AMPK-independent contribution to the GW1516 effect. Similarly, PPARδ-mediated attenuation of FA synthesis was partially due to AMPK activation, as GW1516 reduced lipogenesis in WT hepatocytes but not AMPKβ1(-/-) hepatocytes. HFHC-fed animals were hyperinsulinemic and exhibited selective hepatic insulin resistance, which contributed to elevated fasting FA synthesis and hyperglycemia. GW1516 intervention normalized fasting hyperinsulinemia and selective hepatic insulin resistance and attenuated fasting FA synthesis and hyperglycemia. The HFHC diet polarized the liver toward a proinflammatory M1 state, which was reversed by GW1516 intervention. Thus, PPARδ agonist treatment inhibits the progression of preestablished hepatic steatosis.

Abstract 67: Intervention With Citrus Flavonoids Reverses Existing Metabolic Disorders and Attenuates the Progression of Advanced Atherosclerosis in High Fat--Fed LDLr-/- Mice

Previous studies demonstrated that addition of the citrus flavonoids naringenin or nobiletin to a high-fat diet prevented the development of many disorders linked to the metabolic syndrome. In the present study, we assessed the ability of intervention with nobiletin or naringenin to reverse pre-established obesity, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, dyslipidemia and attenuate atherogenesis. Ldlr-/- mice were fed chow or a high-fat, cholesterol-containing (HFHC) diet for 12 weeks. For an additional 12 weeks, the HFHC-fed mice: (1) continued on the HFHC diet or were transferred to (2) chow, (3) HFHC + 3% naringenin, or (4) HFHC + 0.3% nobiletin. Following rapid weight gain during HFHC-induction, intervention with naringenin or nobiletin stimulated weight loss, while maintaining caloric intake. Micro-CT imaging revealed flavonoid intervention reversed adipose tissue accumulation by 40-60% in both subcutaneous and visceral depots. At 12 weeks, the HFHC-fed mice were hyperinsulinemic (6-fold), which was accompanied by increased fasting plasma glucose. Intervention with either flavonoid normalized plasma insulin and glucose and corrected impaired insulin and glucose tolerance. The HFHC diet increased cholesterol within VLDL (10-fold) and LDL (6-fold), which was reduced (~50%) by either naringenin or nobiletin intervention. HFHC-induction significantly increased hepatic steatosis. Flavonoid intervention reduced hepatic cholesterol (&gt;50%) and triglyceride (~20%) via increased expression of Pgc1a and Cpt1a and reduced expression of Srebp1c. HFHC-induction increased atherosclerotic lesion area (13-fold), which was increased a further 2.5-fold at 24 weeks. Flavonoid intervention modestly retarded lesion size progression (16-20%). As well, intervention with naringenin or nobiletin slowed the accumulation of aortic cholesterol (~30-45%) and reduced lesional necrotic area (~25%), suggesting improved lesion morphology. These studies demonstrate in mice with pre-existing metabolic dysregulation and atherosclerosis that intervention with naringenin or nobiletin reverses obesity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, and modestly attenuates the progression of advanced atherosclerosis.

Abstract 597: Nobiletin Reduces Intestinal Lipoprotein Production in LDL Receptor-Null Mice With Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistant subjects display excessive postprandial lipemia (PPL), defined by overproduction of intestinal triglyceride (TG)-rich, apoB48-containing chylomicrons (CM), which contribute to atherogenesis. However, the regulation of intestinal lipoprotein secretion by insulin and the mechanisms underlying elevated CM production in insulin resistant states remain poorly understood. In mice, the citrus flavonoid nobiletin prevents diet-induced obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis and VLDL overproduction. In the present study, we sought to characterize the aberrant PPL response in mice with diet-induced insulin resistance and hypothesized that nobiletin treatment would correct this abnormal response by normalizing intestinal insulin signaling and TG metabolism. Ldlr-/- mice were fed a high-fat, cholesterol-containing (HFHC) diet (42% fat, 0.2% cholesterol), a HFHC diet plus 0.3% w/w nobiletin or chow for 8 weeks (n=8 per group). Compared to chow, HFHC-fed mice displayed elevated TG (3-fold) within intestinal tissue following a 6 hour fast, which was completely normalized by nobiletin. Fasting-refeeding studies revealed impaired FoxO1 phosphorylation, increased mTOR phosphorylation and elevated Srebp1c mRNA in the jejunum of HFHC-fed mice, indicating intestinal insulin resistance. These parameters were normalized by nobiletin. Measurement of plasma TG following an oral gavage of 150ul olive oil revealed a 3-fold elevation in the total TG area under the curve, which was prevented by nobiletin. Intestinal CM production was determined by injection of mice with poloxamer-407 to inhibit plasma TG-rich lipoprotein lipolysis followed by a gavage containing olive oil and 3H-triolein. Although plasma TG was higher at baseline in HFHC-fed mice, no difference in secretion rates of TG mass or TG radioactivity was observed compared to nobiletin-treated or chow-fed mice. However, secretion of apoB48 was elevated by 20% in HFHC-fed mice, whereas nobiletin decreased apoB48 secretion to levels observed in chow-fed mice. These results indicate that nobiletin prevents intestinal TG accumulation and apoB48 overproduction induced by a HFHC diet, in part, through correction of intestinal insulin resistance.

Abstract 441: Epicatechin Attenuates Atherosclerosis and Exerts Anti-inflammatory Effects on Diet-Induced Human CRP and NfκB in vivo

Objective: Previous studies investigating flavanol-rich foods provided indications for potential cardioprotective effects of these foods, but the effects of individual flavanols remain unclear. We investigated whether the flavanol epicatechin can reduce diet-induced atherosclerosis, with particular emphasis on the cardiovascular risk factors dyslipidaemia and inflammation. Methods: ApoE*3Leiden mice were fed a cholesterol-containing atherogenic diet with or without epicatechin (0.1% w/w) to study effects on early- and late-stage atherosclerosis (8w and 20w). In vivo effects of epicatechin on diet-induced inflammation were studied in human-CRP transgenic mice and NFκB-luciferase reporter mice. Results: Epicatechin attenuated atherosclerotic lesion area in ApoE*3Leiden mice by 27%, without affecting plasma lipids. This anti-atherogenic effect of epicatechin was specific to the severe lesion types, with no effect on mild lesions. Epicatechin mitigated diet-induced increases in plasma SAA (in ApoE*3-Leiden mice) and plasma human-CRP (in human-CRP transgenic mice). Microarray analysis of aortic gene expression revealed an attenuating effect of epicatechin on several diet-induced pro-atherogenic inflammatory processes in the aorta (e.g. chemotaxis of cells, matrix remodelling), regulated by NFκB. These findings were confirmed immunohistochemically by reduced lesional neutrophil content in HCE, and by inhibition of diet-induced NFκB activity in epicatechin-treated NFκB-luciferase reporter mice. Conclusion: Epicatechin attenuates development of atherosclerosis and impairs lesion progression from mild to severe lesions in absence of an effect on dyslipidaemia. The observed reduction of circulating inflammatory risk factors by epicatechin (e.g. SAA, human-CRP), as well as its local anti-inflammatory activity in the vessel wall, provide a rationale for epicatechin’s anti-atherogenic effects.

Lupin protein isolate versus casein modifies cholesterol excretion and mRNA expression of intestinal sterol transporters in a pig model

BackgroundLupin proteins exert hypocholesterolemic effects in man and animals, although the underlying mechanism remains uncertain. Herein we investigated whether lupin proteins compared to casein modulate sterol excretion and mRNA expression of intestinal sterol transporters by use of pigs as an animal model with similar lipid metabolism as humans, and cellular cholesterol-uptake by Caco-2 cells.MethodsTwo groups of pigs were fed cholesterol-containing diets with either 230 g/kg of lupin protein isolate from L. angustifolius or 230 g/kg casein, for 4 weeks. Faeces were collected quantitatively over a 5 d period for analysis of neutral sterols and bile acids by gas chromatographically methods. The mRNA abundances of intestinal lipid transporters were analysed by real-time RT-PCR. Cholesterol-uptake studies were performed with Caco-2 cells that were incubated with lupin conglutin γ, phytate, ezetimibe or albumin in the presence of labelled [4-14C]-cholesterol.ResultsPigs fed the lupin protein isolate revealed lower cholesterol concentrations in total plasma, LDL and HDL than pigs fed casein (P < 0.05). Analysis of faeces revealed a higher output of cholesterol in pigs that were fed lupin protein isolate compared to pigs that received casein (+57.1%; P < 0.05). Relative mRNA concentrations of intestinal sterol transporters involved in cholesterol absorption (Niemann-Pick C1-like 1, scavenger receptor class B, type 1) were lower in pigs fed lupin protein isolate than in those who received casein (P < 0.05). In vitro data showed that phytate was capable of reducing the uptake of labelled [4-14C]-cholesterol into the Caco-2 cells to the same extend as ezetimibe when compared to control (−20.5% vs. −21.1%; P < 0.05).ConclusionsData reveal that the cholesterol-lowering effect of lupin protein isolate is attributable to an increased faecal output of cholesterol and a reduced intestinal uptake of cholesterol. The findings indicate phytate as a possible biofunctional ingredient of lupin protein isolate.

Exendin‐4 decreases liver inflammation and atherosclerosis development simultaneously by reducing macrophage infiltration

The aetiology of inflammation in the liver and vessel wall, leading to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and atherosclerosis, respectively, shares common mechanisms including macrophage infiltration. To treat both disorders simultaneously, it is highly important to tackle the inflammatory status. Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, reduces hepatic steatosis and has been suggested to reduce atherosclerosis; however, its effects on liver inflammation are underexplored. Here, we tested the hypothesis that exendin-4 reduces inflammation in both the liver and vessel wall, and investigated the common underlying mechanism. Female APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, a model with human-like lipoprotein metabolism, were fed a cholesterol-containing Western-type diet for 5 weeks to induce atherosclerosis and subsequently treated for 4 weeks with exendin-4. Exendin-4 modestly improved dyslipidaemia, but markedly decreased atherosclerotic lesion severity and area (-33%), accompanied by a reduction in monocyte adhesion to the vessel wall (-42%) and macrophage content in the plaque (-44%). Furthermore, exendin-4 reduced hepatic lipid content and inflammation as well as hepatic CD68⁺ (-18%) and F4/80⁺ (-25%) macrophage content. This was accompanied by less monocyte recruitment from the circulation as the Mac-1⁺ macrophage content was decreased (-36%). Finally, exendin-4 reduced hepatic chemokine expression in vivo and suppressed oxidized low-density lipoprotein accumulation in peritoneal macrophages in vitro, effects dependent on the GLP-1 receptor. Exendin-4 reduces inflammation in both the liver and vessel wall by reducing macrophage recruitment and activation. These data suggest that exendin-4 could be a valuable strategy to treat NASH and atherosclerosis simultaneously.

Epicatechin attenuates atherosclerosis and exerts anti-inflammatory effects on diet-induced human-CRP and NFκB in vivo

ObjectivePrevious studies investigating flavanol-rich foods provide indications for potential cardioprotective effects of these foods, but the effects of individual flavanols remain unclear. We investigated whether the flavanol epicatechin can reduce diet-induced atherosclerosis, with particular emphasis on the cardiovascular risk factors dyslipidaemia and inflammation. MethodsApoE*3-Leiden mice were fed a cholesterol-containing atherogenic diet with or without epicatechin (0.1% w/w) to study effects on early- and late-stage atherosclerosis (8w and 20w). In vivo effects of epicatechin on diet-induced inflammation were studied in human-CRP transgenic mice and NFκB-luciferase reporter mice. ResultsEpicatechin attenuated atherosclerotic lesion area in ApoE*3-Leiden mice by 27%, without affecting plasma lipids. This anti-atherogenic effect of epicatechin was specific to the severe lesion types, with no effect on mild lesions. Epicatechin mitigated diet-induced increases in plasma SAA (in ApoE*3-Leiden mice) and plasma human-CRP (in human-CRP transgenic mice). Microarray analysis of aortic gene expression revealed an attenuating effect of epicatechin on several diet-induced pro-atherogenic inflammatory processes in the aorta (e.g. chemotaxis of cells, matrix remodelling), regulated by NFκB. These findings were confirmed immunohistochemically by reduced lesional neutrophil content in HCE, and by inhibition of diet-induced NFκB activity in epicatechin-treated NFκB-luciferase reporter mice. ConclusionEpicatechin attenuates development of atherosclerosis and impairs lesion progression from mild to severe lesions in absence of an effect on dyslipidaemia. The observed reduction of circulating inflammatory risk factors by epicatechin (e.g. SAA, human-CRP), as well as its local anti-inflammatory activity in the vessel wall, provide a rationale for epicatechin's anti-atherogenic effects.

Effects of dietary hypercholesterolemia on plasma lipids levels male and female Japanese white and heterozygous Kurosawa-Kusanagi hypercholesterolemic rabbits

High plasma cholesterol levels constitute a major risk factor for coronary heart diseases. In this study, we compared the response to dietary hypercholesterolemia with respect to plasma lipids levels in male and female Kurosawa-Kusanagi hypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits, which have Low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor deficiency. Male and female Japanese white (JW) and heterozygous KHC rabbits were given a standard milled rabbit diet or diets with different concentrations of cholesterol. All the male and female JW and KHC rabbits given a standard milled rabbit diet did not show increased plasma cholesterol levels over the 24-week experiments. The plasma cholesterol levels in male JW rabbits fed a 0.1 % cholesterol-containing diet did not increase, but the levels in male heterozygous KHC rabbits fed the same diet transiently increased for 4-8 weeks (to 300 mg/dL) and then gradually decreased till the initial level. In contrast, in female JW rabbits fed the same diet, the plasma cholesterol  levels increased for 4-24 weeks (to 300 mg/dL), and in heterozygous KHC rabbits, the levels gradually increased (to 675 mg/dL after 24 weeks) after consumption of the 0.1 % cholesterol-containing diet. In ovariectomized JW and KHC rabbits fed the 0.1 % cholesterol-containing diet, the plasma cholesterol levels were half value the levels in non-ovariectomized rabbits  after 24 weeks. Gene expression of the LDL receptor in the liver significantly increased in male JW and KHC rabbits, but significantly decreased in female KHC rabbits. These results indicate that female rabbits had a greater response to the cholesterol diet than male rabbits and that the responsiveness to dietary hypercholesterolemia was predominantly genetic.

Diets Containing Sea Cucumber (Isostichopus badionotus) Meals Are Hypocholesterolemic in Young Rats

Sea cucumber is widely consumed as a putative functional food. It contains many biologically-active substances, but only limited research on its properties in vivo has been done. The effects of different meals containing Isostichopus badionotus, a sea cucumber from southeast Mexico, on growth performance and body lipid profile in young rats were analyzed. Sea cucumber body wall was either lyophilized, cooked (100 °C, 1 h in water) and lyophilized, or oven-dried (70 °C for 12 h). It was then ground and incorporated into cholesterol-containing diets. I. badionotus meals supported growth and improved lipid profile in rats. In particular, serum cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, triglycerides concentration and atherogenic index values were greatly reduced by some I. badionotus containing diets. Liver total lipids, triglycerides and cholesterol were also reduced. Cooking or heat-treatment of the meals lowered but did not abolish their hypolipidemic potency. Gene expression analysis of several key genes involved in cholesterol and lipid metabolism in liver showed that diets containing I. badionotus repressed the induction of key genes associated with dyslipidemia exerted by cholesterol supplementation. Consumption of I. badionotus from the Yucatan Peninsula is beneficial for dyslipidemia, although biological effect is clearly dependent on preparation method.

Apolipoprotein AI and High-Density Lipoprotein Have Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Adipocytes via Cholesterol Transporters

Rationale: Macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue associates with insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular disease risk. We previously have shown that generation of reactive oxygen species and monocyte chemotactic factors after exposure of adipocytes to saturated fatty acids, such as palmitate, occurs via translocation of NADPH oxidase 4 into lipid rafts (LRs). The anti-inflammatory effects of apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on macrophages and endothelial cells seem to occur via cholesterol depletion of LRs. However, little is known concerning anti-inflammatory effects of HDL and apoAI on adipocytes. Objective: To determine whether apoAI and HDL inhibit inflammation in adipocytes and adipose tissue, and whether this is dependent on LRs. Methods and Results: In 3T3L-1 adipocytes, apoAI, HDL, and methyl-β-cyclodextrin inhibited chemotactic factor expression. ApoAI and HDL also disrupted LRs, reduced plasma membrane cholesterol content, inhibited NADPH oxidase 4 translocation into LRs, and reduced palmitate-induced reactive oxygen species generation and monocyte chemotactic factor expression. Silencing ATP-binding cassette A-1 abrogated the effect of apoAI, but not HDL, whereas silencing ATP-binding cassette G-1 or scavenger receptor B-1 abrogated the effect of HDL but not apoAI. In vivo, apoAI transgenic mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose, cholesterol-containing diet showed reduced chemotactic factor and proinflammatory cytokine expression and reduced macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue. Conclusions: ApoAI and HDL have anti-inflammatory effects in adipocytes and adipose tissue similar to their effects in other cell types. These effects are consistent with disruption and removal of cholesterol from LRs, which are regulated by cholesterol transporters, such as ATP-binding cassette A-1, ATP-binding cassette G-1, and scavenger receptor B-1.

NUTRITIONAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN TROPICAL FRUITS

During the past two decades our international scientific group investigated in vitro the physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of some cultivars of durian at various stages of ripening, mangosteen and new cultivars of snake fruit in comparison with widely used avocado, kiwifruit and mango, and in vivo their influence on laboratory animals. The main objective of the present study was to screen and compare the properties of water and ethanol extracts of selected exotic fruits and the influence of their physiologically active compounds on human health. The bioactive compounds were extracted with water and ethanol using similar procedures as are used in pharmaceutical applications and daily fruit consumption. Various analytical methods were used to detect biologically active metabolites derived from exotic fruits (polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols, tannins, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid), antioxidant radical scavenging assays (DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC, and ABTS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, two (2D-FL) and three-dimensional (3D-FL) fluorimetry. The correlation between the polyphenols and other bioactive compounds, and their antioxidant activities, is reported for the studied fruit extracts. The properties of the soil, where the investigated fruits were grown, were studied as well. Supplementation of diets with exotic fruits positively affected the plasma lipid profile and antioxidant activity in rats fed cholesterol-containing diets. The interaction between drugs and serum albumin plays an important role in the distribution and metabolism of drugs. The properties of polyphenol extracts of exotic fruits showed the ability to quench serum albumin by forming complexes similar with the ones formed between the proteins and pure flavonoids such as catechin and quercetin. In conclusion, new application of fluorimetry and FTIR spectroscopy for rapid estimation of the quality of exotic fruits in particular and for any fruits and vegetables in general is presented. It is necessary to promote a consumption of exotic fruits (a rich source of natural antioxidants) as a supplement to everyday human diet and for pharmaceutical applications.

Optimization of a Low Magnesium, Cholesterol-Containing Diet for the Development of Atherosclerosis in Rabbits

The cholesterol-fed rabbit is useful for atherosclerosis research. We describe development of a low-magnesium (Mg) cholesterol-containing diet to accelerate atherosclerosis in this model. Male New Zealand White rabbits were fed either chow or one of four atherogenic diets: 1% cholesterol 10% fat 0.11% Mg, 1% cholesterol 10% fat 0.40% Mg, 2% cholesterol 20% fat 0.11% Mg, or 2% cholesterol 20% fat 0.40% Mg. While feed intake decreased in cholesterol-fed rabbits, they were able to maintain their body weights. Rabbits consuming cholesterol experienced profound hypercholesterolemia and tissue lipid accumulation, with plasma cholesterol levels above 1500 mg/dl for all groups at the completion of the study. Liver and spleen lipid content and liver cholesterol content also increased. Aortic arch atheroma thickness was greatest in 1% cholesterol 10% fat 0.11% Mg animals. Tissue Mg levels decreased in cholesterol-fed animals compared to chow-fed controls, despite equal or greater serum Mg levels. Our results indicate that the 1% cholesterol 10% fat 0.11% Mg diet was optimal at promoting hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis while minimizing health complications for the animals. The low Mg cholesterol diet will be useful to other biomedical researchers interested in utilizing the rabbit for cardiovascular disease research.

Gender-based differences in the effect of dietary cholesterol in rats

Abstract Male and female rats were fed diets supplemented with cholesterol and palm fat at 10 and 50 g/kg, respectively; serum, hepatic tissue and faeces were analysed. Cholesterol supplementation significantly increased serum and hepatic cholesterol both in male and female rats. Male and female rats fed the cholesterol-containing diet differed significantly in serum cholesterol concentration (2.48 µmol/mL vs 2.92 µmol/mL), concentration of serum triacylglycerols, but not in hepatic cholesterol concentration. The serum and hepatic cholesterol concentrations correlated non-significantly in male rats (r=0.491; P=0.063) and significantly in female rats (r=0.818; P&lt;0.001). Cholesterol supplementation non-significantly decreased relative expression of the hepatic LDL receptor gene and significantly increased relative expression of the hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene in rats of both genders. The faeces of control rats contained similar amounts of cholesterol and bile acids. Cholesterol supplementation increased cholesterol concentration 10 times in the faeces of male rats and 12 times in faeces of female rats. The corresponding increases of bile acid concentration were much lower (83% in male rats and 108% in female rats). It can be concluded that the effects of cholesterol supplementation were more pronounced in female than in male rats.