Studying the biosynthesis, utilization and transport of cholesterol as well as the balance between these pathways may allow us to understand better how to keep its harmful deposition in arteries to a minimum. The goal of my thesis was to identify a novel player, namely the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), in cellular and plasma cholesterol metabolism by elucidating its regulatory and mechanistic functions. / In our families with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) deficiency, one kindred was found to have mutations for the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase-1 (SMPD-1). This gene codes for lysosomal and secretory ASM and its mutations cause the recessive disorder of Niemann-Pick type A/B (NPD-A/B). My thesis, based on the study of the gene and the protein defect in this family, has led to four important discoveries. First, SMPD-1 mutations are significantly associated with low HDL-C. Second, in order to unveil the mechanism by which ASM contributes to the regulation of HDL-C levels, we investigated the cellular lipid transport in NPD-B fibroblasts. We showed that lysosomal ASM defects lead to co-segregation and co-localization of sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol. However, the SM accumulation does not rate-limit the efflux ability of NPD-B cells. Third, we set up the electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry to give an in-depth qualitative and quantitative phospholipid characterization of HDL particles generated from NPD-B. We found that their SM content is significantly elevated. We subsequently provided evidence that the SM content of HDL could be modulated by secretory ASM. Together with other plasma enzymes including lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase, secretroy ASM appears to regulate the maturation and clearance of HDL-C from the plasma. Finally, we examined the molecular nature of the NPD-B pathophysiology by investigating the structure-function relationship of ASM. We demonstrated that the C-terminal region of ASM plays a critical role in the enzyme conformation that dictates its enzymatic function and secretion. / In summary, our lessons on NPD-B have enabled us to identify ASM as an important player in lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism. Because HDL-C is inversely associated with coronary heart disease, our findings opened a novel therapeutic avenue in the search of preventive strategies against heart disease in our society.

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Treinamento físico é considerado um dos principais instrumentos para promover um estilo de vida saudável. No entanto, os efeitos do treinamento resistido sobre as vias metabólicas, especialmente o metabolismo lipídico intravascular é em grande parte inexplorada e merece uma investigação mais aprofundada. No presente estudo nós avaliamos os efeitos do treinamento resistido sobre o metabolismo de uma nanoemulsão artificial lipídica e na transferência de lípides para HDL, uma importante etapa do metabolismo da HDL. A cinética plasmática da nanoemulsão artificial lipídica foi estudada em 15 homens saudáveis com treinamento resistido regular de 1-4 anos (idade = 25 ± 5 anos, VO2máx = 50 ± 6 mL/kg/min) e em 15 homens saudáveis sedentários (28 ± 7 anos, VO2máx = 35 ± 9 mL/kg/min). A nanoemulsão artificial lipídica marcada com éster de colesterol-14C e colesterol livre-3H foi injetada por via intravenosa, as amostras de plasma foram coletadas por 24 h para determinar curvas de cinéticas e a taxa fracional de remoção (TFR). Transferência de lípides para HDL foi determinada in vitro pela incubação de amostras de plasma com nanoemulsões (doadores de lípides) marcada com o isótopo radioativo colesterol livre, éster de colesterol, triglicérides e fosfolípides. Tamanho da HDL, atividade da paraoxonase 1 e os níveis de LDL oxidada também foram determinadas. Os dois grupos apresentaram LDL-colesterol, HDL-colesterol e triglicérides semelhantes, mas a LDL oxidada foi menor no grupo treinamento resistido (30 ± 9 vs 61 ± 19 U/L, p = 0,0005). No treinamento resistido, a nanoemulsão éster de colesterol-14C foi removida duas vezes mais rápido do que em indivíduos sedentários (TFR: 0,068 ± 0,023 vs 0,037 ± 0,028, p = 0,002), bem como o colesterol livre-3H (0,041 ± 0,025 vs 0,022 ± 0,023, p = 0,04). Embora ambos os componentes da nanoemulsão tenham sido removidos na mesma proporção em indivíduos sedentários, no grupo treinamento resistido o colesterol livre-3H foi removido mais lento do que o éster de colesterol-14C (p = 0,005). Tamanho da HDL, paraoxonase 1 e as taxas de transferência de HDL dos quatro lipídios foram as mesmas em ambos os grupos. Portanto, concluímos que o treinamento resistido acelera a remoção da nanoemulsão artificial lipídica, o que provavelmente explica a redução dos níveis de LDL oxidada no grupo treinamento resistido. O treinamento resistido também alterou o equilíbrio da TFR do colesterol livre e esterificado. No entanto, o treinamento resistido não teve efeito nos parâmetros relacionados ao metabolismo da HDL / Exercise training is considered one of the main instruments to promote a healthy lifestyle. However, effects resistance training on the metabolic pathways, specially the intravascular lipid metabolism is largely unexplored and deserves further investigation. In this study we evaluated the effects of resistance training on the metabolism of an LDL-like nanoemulsion and on lipid transfer to HDL, an important step of HDL metabolism. LDL-like nanoemulsion plasma kinetics was studied in 15 healthy men under regular resistance training for 1-4 years (age = 25 ± 5 years, VO2peak = 50 ± 6 mL/kg/min) and in 15 healthy sedentary men (28 ± 7 years, VO2peak = 35 ± 9 mL/kg/min). LDL-like nanoemulsion labeled with 14C-cholesteryl ester and 3H-free cholesterol was injected intravenously, plasma samples were collected over 24 h to determine kinetics curves and fractional clearance rates (FCR). Lipid transfer to HDL was determined in vitro by incubating of plasma samples with nanoemulsions (lipid donors) labeled with radioactive free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, triglycerides and phospholipids. HDL size, paraoxonase 1 activity and oxidized LDL levels were also determined. The two groups showed similar LDL and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, but oxidized LDL was lower in resistance training group (30 ± 9 vs 61 ± 19 U/L, p = 0.0005). In resistance training, the nanoemulsion 14Ccholesteryl ester was removed twice as fast than in sedentary individuals (FCR: 0.068 ± 0.023 vs 0.037 ± 0.028, p = 0.002), as well as 3H-free cholesterol (0.041 ± 0.025 vs 0.022 ± 0.023, p = 0.04). While both nanoemulsion labels were removed at the same rate in sedentary individuals, in resistance training group 3H-free cholesterol was removed slower than 14C-cholesteryl ester (p = 0.005). HDL size, paraoxonase 1 and the transfer rates to HDL of the four lipids were the same in both groups. Therefore, we conclude that the resistance training accelerated the clearance of LDL-like nanoemulsion, which probably accounts for the oxidized LDL levels reduction in resistance training group. Resistance training also changed the balance of free and esterified cholesterol FCRs. However, RT had no effect on HDL metabolism related parameters

Treinamento físico é considerado um dos principais instrumentos para promover um estilo de vida saudável. No entanto, os efeitos do treinamento resistido sobre as vias metabólicas, especialmente o metabolismo lipídico intravascular é em grande parte inexplorada e merece uma investigação mais aprofundada. No presente estudo nós avaliamos os efeitos do treinamento resistido sobre o metabolismo de uma nanoemulsão artificial lipídica e na transferência de lípides para HDL, uma importante etapa do metabolismo da HDL. A cinética plasmática da nanoemulsão artificial lipídica foi estudada em 15 homens saudáveis com treinamento resistido regular de 1-4 anos (idade = 25 ± 5 anos, VO2máx = 50 ± 6 mL/kg/min) e em 15 homens saudáveis sedentários (28 ± 7 anos, VO2máx = 35 ± 9 mL/kg/min). A nanoemulsão artificial lipídica marcada com éster de colesterol-14C e colesterol livre-3H foi injetada por via intravenosa, as amostras de plasma foram coletadas por 24 h para determinar curvas de cinéticas e a taxa fracional de remoção (TFR). Transferência de lípides para HDL foi determinada in vitro pela incubação de amostras de plasma com nanoemulsões (doadores de lípides) marcada com o isótopo radioativo colesterol livre, éster de colesterol, triglicérides e fosfolípides. Tamanho da HDL, atividade da paraoxonase 1 e os níveis de LDL oxidada também foram determinadas. Os dois grupos apresentaram LDL-colesterol, HDL-colesterol e triglicérides semelhantes, mas a LDL oxidada foi menor no grupo treinamento resistido (30 ± 9 vs 61 ± 19 U/L, p = 0,0005). No treinamento resistido, a nanoemulsão éster de colesterol-14C foi removida duas vezes mais rápido do que em indivíduos sedentários (TFR: 0,068 ± 0,023 vs 0,037 ± 0,028, p = 0,002), bem como o colesterol livre-3H (0,041 ± 0,025 vs 0,022 ± 0,023, p = 0,04). Embora ambos os componentes da nanoemulsão tenham sido removidos na mesma proporção em indivíduos sedentários, no grupo treinamento resistido o colesterol livre-3H foi removido mais lento do que o éster de colesterol-14C (p = 0,005). Tamanho da HDL, paraoxonase 1 e as taxas de transferência de HDL dos quatro lipídios foram as mesmas em ambos os grupos. Portanto, concluímos que o treinamento resistido acelera a remoção da nanoemulsão artificial lipídica, o que provavelmente explica a redução dos níveis de LDL oxidada no grupo treinamento resistido. O treinamento resistido também alterou o equilíbrio da TFR do colesterol livre e esterificado. No entanto, o treinamento resistido não teve efeito nos parâmetros relacionados ao metabolismo da HDL / Exercise training is considered one of the main instruments to promote a healthy lifestyle. However, effects resistance training on the metabolic pathways, specially the intravascular lipid metabolism is largely unexplored and deserves further investigation. In this study we evaluated the effects of resistance training on the metabolism of an LDL-like nanoemulsion and on lipid transfer to HDL, an important step of HDL metabolism. LDL-like nanoemulsion plasma kinetics was studied in 15 healthy men under regular resistance training for 1-4 years (age = 25 ± 5 years, VO2peak = 50 ± 6 mL/kg/min) and in 15 healthy sedentary men (28 ± 7 years, VO2peak = 35 ± 9 mL/kg/min). LDL-like nanoemulsion labeled with 14C-cholesteryl ester and 3H-free cholesterol was injected intravenously, plasma samples were collected over 24 h to determine kinetics curves and fractional clearance rates (FCR). Lipid transfer to HDL was determined in vitro by incubating of plasma samples with nanoemulsions (lipid donors) labeled with radioactive free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, triglycerides and phospholipids. HDL size, paraoxonase 1 activity and oxidized LDL levels were also determined. The two groups showed similar LDL and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, but oxidized LDL was lower in resistance training group (30 ± 9 vs 61 ± 19 U/L, p = 0.0005). In resistance training, the nanoemulsion 14Ccholesteryl ester was removed twice as fast than in sedentary individuals (FCR: 0.068 ± 0.023 vs 0.037 ± 0.028, p = 0.002), as well as 3H-free cholesterol (0.041 ± 0.025 vs 0.022 ± 0.023, p = 0.04). While both nanoemulsion labels were removed at the same rate in sedentary individuals, in resistance training group 3H-free cholesterol was removed slower than 14C-cholesteryl ester (p = 0.005). HDL size, paraoxonase 1 and the transfer rates to HDL of the four lipids were the same in both groups. Therefore, we conclude that the resistance training accelerated the clearance of LDL-like nanoemulsion, which probably accounts for the oxidized LDL levels reduction in resistance training group. Resistance training also changed the balance of free and esterified cholesterol FCRs. However, RT had no effect on HDL metabolism related parameters