After prolonged exposure to ascorbate, collagen synthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts increased approximately 8-fold with no significant change in synthesis ofnoncollagen protein. This effect of ascorbate appears to be unrelated to its cofactor function in collagen hydroxylation. The collagenous protein secreted in the absence of added ascorbate was normal in hydroxylysine but was mildly deficient in hydroxyproline. In parallel experiments, lysine hydroxylase (peptidyllysine, 2-oxoglutarate:oxygen 5-oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.11.4) activity increased 3-fold in response to ascorbate administration whereas proline hydroxylase (prolyl-glycyl-peptide, 2-oxoglutarate:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.11.2) activity decreased considerably. These results suggest that collagen polypeptide synthesis, posttranslational hydroxylations, and activities of the two bydroxylases are independently regulated by ascorbate.Ascorbic acid is essential for normal collagen formation (1-3) by virtue ofthe fact that it is a required component in the synthesis of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine in collagen (4). Hydroxyproline serves to stabilize the collagen triple helix (5, 6); its absence results in structurally unstable collagen (7, 8) which is not secreted from cells at a normal rate (9). Hydroxylysine is necessary for formation of the intermolecular crosslinks in collagen (10). In addition, specific carbohydrate residues are linked glycosidically to collagen through hydroxylysine, a process that may be important in the regulation of crosslink formation (11).It is generally believed that ascorbate modulates collagen production through its effect on prolyl hydroxylation (12). There have been indications, however, that ascorbate may have an additional role in collagen biosynthesis (13-16). Notable are the early studies by Jeffrey and Martin (13) who observed a substantial increase in the size of chicken long bones cultured in the presence of ascorbate, concomitant with an increase in the incorporation of proline into peptidyl hydroxyproline.In this study we have examined the long-term effect of ascorbate on collagen production by cultured human skin fibroblasts. The influence ofascorbate on prolyl hydroxylase (prolylglycyl-peptide, 2-oxoglutarate:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.11.2) and lysyl hydroxylase (peptidyllysine, 2 oxoglutarate:oxygen 5-oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.11.4) levels was also examined simultaneously to understand better the interrelationship of collagen synthesis and posttranslational hydroxylation. The data indicate that ascorbate increases collagen synthesis by acting at a level other than hydroxylation. MATERIALS AND METHODSHuman skin fibroblasts from a normal 3-day-old boy (GM 970) were obtained from the Institute for Medical Research (Camden, NJ) and grown to confluent density in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium buffered with 24 mM sodium bicarbonate and 25 mM Hepes and supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum (GIBCO) which had been inactivated for 30 min at 560C. Cultures were growth arrested for 90 hr in ...

Objective: To characterize brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the human perirenal adipose tissue depot. Method: Perirenal adipose tissue biopsies were obtained from 55 healthy kidney donors. Expression analysis was performed using microarray, real-time PCR, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Additional studies using human stem cells were performed. Results: UCP1 gene expression analysis revealed a large intra-individual variation in the perirenal adipose tissue biopsies. Both multi-and unilocular UCP1-positive adipocytes were detected in several of the adipose tissue samples analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Microarray analysis identified 54 genes that were overexpressed in UCP1-positive perirenal adipose tissue. Real-time PCR analysis of BAT candidate genes revealed a set of genes that were highly correlated to UCP1 and a set of three transcription factor genes (PRDM16, PGC1a, and RXRc) that were highly correlated to each other. RXRc displayed nuclear immunoreactivity in brown adipocytes and an increased gene expression during brown adipogenesis in human stem cells. Conclusion: Our data provides the first molecular characterization of BAT in the perirenal adipose tissue depot. Furthermore, it highlights the transcription factor RXRc as a new player in BAT development.

Objective. The importance of adiponectin in coronary heart disease remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the associations between plasma adiponectin levels and i) myocardial infarction and ii) genetic variation within the adiponectin gene were investigated.Methods. The study included young survivors (age <60 years) of a first myocardial infarction and gender-and age-matched controls (244 pairs). Adiponectin concentrations were analysed by radioimmunoassay. Two polymorphisms, rs266729 and rs1501299, of the adiponectin gene ADIPOQ were genotyped.Results. Adiponectin levels were inversely associated with myocardial infarction [odds ratio (OR) 9.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.7-18.2, for the lowest quartile compared to the highest quartile]. This persisted after adjustment for history of hypertension, HDL cholesterol, smoking and body mass index (BMI) (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3-7.6). The rs266729 polymorphism was associated with adiponectin levels. Plasma adiponectin concentrations were lower in individuals with the rare G ⁄ G genotype [median 4.3 mg mL Conclusion. Low plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with myocardial infarction in individuals below the age of 60, and this remains significant after adjustment for history of hypertension, HDL cholesterol, smoking and BMI. In addition, adiponectin levels differ according to rs266729 genotype.

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