The metabolism of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the hamster is substantially similar to that of the human. To extend the usefulness of the hamster as an experimental model, the hamster LDL receptor gene was isolated and characterized. The gene is composed of 18 exons and 17 introns which span 26 kilobases. The introns occur at precisely the same positions as those previously determined for t...

Familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by mutations in the LDL receptor gene (Ldlr). Elevated plasma LDL levels result from slower LDL catabolism and a paradoxical lipoprotein overproduction. We explored the relationship between the presence of the LDL receptor and lipoprotein secretion in hepatocytes from both wild-type and LDL receptor-deficient mice. Ldlr(-/-) hepatocytes secreted apoB100 a...

Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) play a pivotal role by regulating plasma low-density cholesterol (LDL-c) levels. Dihydromyricetin (DMY), the most abundant natural flavonoid in rattan tea, has proven anti-atherogenic effects, but underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, we studied effects of DMY on LDLR...

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a rare disease that tends to be diagnosed lately. In Russia, the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the disease are not well defined. We investigated 102 patients with definite FH. In 52 of these patients (50.9%) genetic analysis was performed, revealing pathogenic mutations of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene in 22 patients. We repor...

Many tumors express elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors. Therefore, native LDL and synthetic LDL-like particles have been proposed as carriers for antineoplastic drugs. We demonstrated earlier that small apolipoprotein E (apoE)-exposing liposomes were specifically recognized by the LDL receptor. In this study, we incorporated a lipophilic derivative of daunorubicin (LAD) ...

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) modified by incubation with phospholipase C (PLC-LDL) aggregates in solution and is rapidly taken up and degraded by human and mouse macrophages, producing foam cells in vitro. Human, mouse, and rabbit macrophages degraded 125I-labeled PLC-LDL (125I-PLC-LDL) more rapidly than native 125I-labeled LDL (125I-LDL), while nonphagocytic cells such as human fibroblasts an...

U937 is a monocytic cell-line originally derived from a histiocytic lymphoma. In serum-free medium the growth of U937 cells was stimulated by addition of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Methylation of LDL impaired its ability to be taken up in U937 cells as well as the capacity to stimulate the growth of these cells. Pretreatment of U937 cells with a monoclonal antibody against the LDL receptor ...

The relaxin receptor (LGR7, relaxin family peptide receptor 1) is a member of the leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptors subgroup C. This and the LGR8 (relaxin family peptide receptor 2) receptor are unique in having a low-density lipoprotein class A (LDL-A) module at their N termini. This study was designed to show the role of the LDL-A in LGR7 expression and function. Poin...

The aim of this study was the characterization of mutations of the LDL receptor gene in 39 Italian patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, who were examined during the period 1994 to 1996. The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 64 years; one third of them were older than 30. Plasma LDL cholesterol level ranged from 10.8 to 25.1 mmol/L. The residual LDL receptor activity, measu...

Previous work in this laboratory [ 1.2.31 showed that elevation of cyclic AMP has dual effects (A and B below) on the expression of the LDL receptor in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and skin fibroblasts. A). Cyclic AMP elevating agents stimulate LDL receptor activity [ I ] in human cells by increasing the rate of receptor protein synthesis [2]. The stimulation is not secondary to th...