Elevated plasma concentrations of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) are associated with increased risk of atherothrombotic disease. Lp(a) is a unique lipoprotein consisting of a low density lipoprotein-like moiety covalently linked to apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)), a homologue of the fibrinolytic proenzyme plasminogen. Apo(a) is extremely heterogeneous in size with small isoforms being independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that Lp(a)/apo(a) can inhibit tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA)-mediated plasminogen activation on fibrin surfaces, although the mechanism of inhibition by apo(a) remains controversial. Essential to fibrin clot lysis are a number of plasmin-dependent positive feedback reactions that enhance the efficiency of plasminogen activation, including the plasmin-mediated conversion of Glu1-plasminogen to Lys78-plasminogen. Additionally, abnormal fibrin clot structures have been associated with both an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and elevated Lp(a) levels. Similarly, oxidized phospholipids have been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease, and are not only preferentially carried by Lp(a) in the plasma but have also been shown to covalently-modify both apo(a) and plasminogen. In this thesis, we built upon the understanding of the role of apo(a) in plasminogen activation on the fibrin/degraded fibrin surface by determining that: (i) apo(a) inhibits plasmin-mediated Glu1-plasminogen to Lys78-plasminogen conversion and identifying the critical domains in apo(a) responsible for this effect, (ii) apo(a) isoform size does not affect either the inhibition of tPA-mediated plasminogen activation or the inhibition of plasmin-mediated Glu1-plasminogen to Lys78-plasminogen conversion, (iii) apo(a) modifies fibrin clot structure to form more dense clots with thinner fibers and reduced permeability, modifications that enhance the ability of apo(a) to inhibit tPA-mediated plasminogen activation and (iv) the phosphorus content of apo(a) affects its ability to inhibit tPA-mediated plasminogen activation and the phosphorus content of plasminogen affects its ability to be activated by tPA. By understanding these individual reactions, each of which has the potential to affect the broader fibrin clot lysis process, we have expanded our understanding of the overall effect of Lp(a)/apo(a) in the inhibition of plasminogen activation on the fibrin/degraded fibrin surface and thus broadened our understanding of how Lp(a)/apo(a) may mediate the inhibition of thrombolysis in vivo. / Thesis (Ph.D, Biochemistry) -- Queen's University, 2011-12-14 08:26:54.99

Apoptosis plays a crucial role in multicellular organisms by preserving tissue homeostasis and removing harmful cells. The anti-apoptotic B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) act as major regulators of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Activation of Bax via stress signals causes its translocation to the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM). There, Bax forms homo-oligomeric pores, leading to the release of apoptogenic factors, caspase activation and ultimately cell death. However, the underlying mechanism for the recruitment and pore forming activity of Bax is still not elucidated. Nevertheless, the mitochondrial membrane system seems to play an active and crucial role, presumably being directly involved in the onset of the mitochondrial apoptosis. Since the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common stress signal and one of the hallmarks of the mitochondrial apoptosis, direct damage can occur to these membranes by the generation of oxidized phospholipids (OxPls), whose presence can crucially influence the pro-apoptotic action of Bax there. To better understand the impact of OxPls on membranes as well as their potential role in the mitochondrial apoptotic process, defined OxPl species were incorporated into phospholipid vesicles and studied with various biophysical techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to gain insight into changes in membrane properties in the presence of OxPls. In addition to circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, DSC and solid state NMR were furthermore performed to elucidate the impact of OxPls on Bax-membrane interactions. The occurrence of OxPls gave rise to dramatic changes in membrane organization and dynamics, manifested as lateral phase separation into OxPl-rich and -poor domains and modified hydration at the membrane interface. The presence of OxPls also had a great impact on the interaction between Bax and mitochondria-mimicking vesicles, strongly promoting the association of the protein with the membrane. At the MOM, Bax is believed to be inhibited by Bcl-2. How this inhibition occurs is still a mystery due to the lack of biophysical information on Bcl-2, in particular on the full-length protein variant. Since Bcl-2 is also one of the main culprits in the progression of various forms of cancer, knowledge of the structural and mechanistic properties of the full-length protein is essential for a fundamental understanding of its function at a molecular level. To this end, a method for the production of full-length Bcl-2 was developed. By performing cell-free protein synthesis, preparative amounts of the protein were obtained, which enabled a biophysical characterization of the putative interaction between Bax and Bcl-2 using CD and fluorescence spectroscopy. A protocol for the reconstitution of Bcl-2 into proteoliposomes was also developed, promising for future studies of the full-length protein in its native membrane environment; a prerequisite to fully understand its pro-survival functions as well as providing crucial information for the design of novel anti-cancer drugs.

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Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAFAH) is elevated in atherosclerosis and may play a role in pathogenesis of this disease. Molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of this lipoprotein-associated PLA2 are indistinct. Mildy oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and monocytes (the primary source of PAFAH) are co-localized in early atheromas. Monocytes are activated by oxidized phospholipids (oxPL) in the oxLDL particle. We hypothesized that oxPL-activated monocytes are the source of increased levels of PAFAH in atherosclerosis. We found that PAFAH expression is significantly induced by OxPAPC and in particular long-chain fractions of oxPAPC in monocytes and cytokine-differentiated DC, but not cytokine-differentiated MO. Furthermore, spontaneously differentiated MO and DC from monocytes of non-periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis subjects, oxPAPC induced PAFAH in DC alone. 1-palmitoyl-2-epoxyisoprostane-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PEIPC) is a particularly bioactive component of long-chain oxPAPC fractions that binds the prostaglandin receptor subtypes DP1 and EP2. We revealed using selective agonists and antagonists of these receptors that DP1 and EP2 are required for the induction of PAFAH expression. OxPAPC stimulates IL-6 release from monocytes and this cytokine is required for oxPAPC-induced PAFAH expression. We next tested the hypothesis that oxPAPC did not induce PAFAH in MO because a key component of the signaling machinery was lacking. Flow cytometric and immunoblot analyses demonstrated that MO express very low levels of IL-6 receptor in comparison to DC and monocytes. Based on these observations, we propose that long-chain oxPL induce PAFAH expression by binding DP1 and/or EP2 and stimulating IL-6 production. These data strongly support the hypothesis that oxLDL-activated DC are the source of high PAFAH levels in atherosclerosis. Platelet activating factor (PAF) is the inflammatory phospholipids for which PAFAH is named. PAF has been shown by other investigators to induce the expression of PAFAH. In our physiologically relevant monocytes, PAF suppresses PAFAH transcription and expression. 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POVPC) is a short-chain oxPL that signals through the PAF receptor. Our preliminary data suggest that like PAF, POVPC suppresses PAFAH expression in monocytes. Further investigation into the effects of the short-chain oxPL are warranted. Our data support the hypothesies that oxPL-activated DC are the source of high PAFAH levels in atherosclerosis.

Advanced fluorescence techniques were used to explore tree distinct topics concerning biological membrane and their interactions. Following thesis is according to the topic divided into three parts: 1) Ionic effects were studied employing time dependent fluorescence shift experiments and molecular dynamic simulations. Combination of these two approaches are suitable to reveal characteristic like mobility and hydration of particular bilayer segment, lipid packing or ion binding sites. Halide anions were reported to adsorb to the cationic lipid bilayer specifically, altering membrane mobility and organization. Changes in observed parameters follows Hofmeister order. Their effect is mediated either by direct ionic interaction (soft, polarizable ions) as well as via alteration of water structure (hard, non-polarizable ions) in proximity of ion molecule. Further, divalent calcium was shown to bind strongly to neutral and negatively charged lipid bilayers. Several types of binding sites depending on calcium concentration were identified. 2) Two complementary lipopeptides, CPK and CPE, incorporated into distinct lipid bilayers serve as a minimal model inducing membrane fusion. Effectiveness of fusion event might be influenced by lipopeptide-membrane and lipopeptide-lipopeptide interaction. To reveal...

Le diabète de type 2 (DT2) est associé à un risque athéro-thrombotique élevé, en partie dû à l'hyperactivation plaquettaire et aux dyslipoprotéinémies. Les lipoprotéines de haute densité (HDL) possèdent des propriétés anti-athérogènes et subissent des modifications glycoxydatives lors du DT2. Notre objectif a été de déterminer les effets d'HDL glycoxydées in vitro ou de DT2 sur les plaquettes sanguines humaines et de déterminer leur contenu en lipides oxydés. Les HDL glycoxydées possèdent des proportions moindres d'acides linoléique et arachidonique dans les phospholipides (PL) et esters de cholestérol, des concentrations plus élevées de dialdéhyde malonique et des principaux acides gras hydroxylés (AGOH) dont les 9-HODE, 13- HODE et 15-HETE dans toutes les classes lipidiques, en particulier dans les PL ainsi que des concentrations très faibles de vitamine E comparativement aux HDL contrôles. Les HDL glycoxydées in vitro et de patients DT2 inhibent de façon dose-dépendante l'agrégation plaquettaire induite par le collagène via le récepteur SR-BI. Ces HDL glycoxydées diminuent la phosphorylation des p38 MAPK et cPLA2 plaquettaires. D'autre part, des HDL contrôles enrichies avec le PC(16:0/13-HODE) inhibent fortement l'agrégation comparativement aux HDL contrôles. De plus, les effets des sous-classes d'HDL, HDL 2 & 3, de DT2 et de témoins ont été testés sur l'agrégation plaquettaire. Les HDL2 de DT2 possèdent des concentrations d'AGOH plus élevées que les HDL3 de DT2 et tendent à inhiber plus l'agrégation plaquettaire. En conclusion, nos résultats montrent que les HDL glycoxydées de patients diabétiques ne perdent pas leurs propriétés anti-agrégantes, qui pourraient être médiées par certaines PL oxydés / Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with a high athero-thrombotic risk, partly due to platelet hyperactivation and dyslipoproteinemia. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) possess antiatherogenic properties and undergo glycoxidation changes in T2D. Our objective was to determine the effects of glycoxidized HDL in vitro or from T2D patients on human blood platelets and to identify their oxidized lipid species. Compared to control HDL, glycoxidized HDL have lower proportions of linoleic and arachidonic acids in phospholipids (PL) and cholesteryl esters, higher concentrations of malondialdehyde and main hydroxylated fatty acid (HOFA) including 9-HODE, 13-HODE and 15-HETE in all lipid classes, especially in PL, and very low concentrations of vitamin E. In vitro glycoxidized and T2D HDL dose-dependently inhibit platelet aggregation induced by collagen via the SR-BI receptor. Glycoxidized HDL decrease the phosphorylation of platelet p38 MAPK and cPLA2. On the other hand, control HDL enriched with oxidized phospholipids i.e. PC(16:0/13-HODE) strongly inhibit platelet aggregation compared to controls. Moreover, the effects of HDL subclasses, HDL 2 & 3, from T2D patients and healthy controls were tested on platelet aggregation. T2D HDL2 have higher concentrations of HOFA than T2D HDL3 and tend to inhibit platelet aggregation to a greater extent. In conclusion, our results show that T2D glycoxidized HDL do not lose their anti-aggregatingproperties and are even more effective than control HDL. These anti-aggregatory effects could be partly due to some oxidized PL species