Human plasma contains at least three forms of adiponectin: a trimer, a hexamer, and a high-molecular-weight (HMW) multimer. We purified HMW adiponectin from human plasma using its affinity to gelatin and obtained monoclonal antibodies against it. On Western blot analysis, the reactivity of these monoclonal antibodies was shown to be restricted to a non-heat-denatured form of adiponectin molecules. On heating, the collagen-like domain of adiponectin molecules became denatured, and thus the trimer form could not be maintained. From these, monoclonal antibodies against HMW adiponectin were suggested to react with the intact trimer of adiponectin. With these monoclonal antibodies, we developed a sandwich ELISA system for quantifying adiponectin in human serum. Its specificity was verified by analysis of serum fractions separated by gel-filtration chromatography, and our ELISA system was found to be HMW adiponectinspecific. With this novel ELISA, the HMW adiponectin concentrations were 8.4 6 5.5 mg/ml (mean 6 SD) in healthy women and 6.2 6 3.6 mg/ml in healthy men. Also, serum with a lower HMW adiponectin concentration was shown to have a lower HMW ratio (i.e., HMW adiponectin/total adiponectin).-Nakano, Y., S. Tajima, A. Yoshimi, H. Akiyama, M. Tsushima, T. Tanioka, T. Negoro, M. Tomita, and T. Tobe. A novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for high-molecular-weight adiponectin. Adiponectin is an adipocyte-specific secretory protein that is highly and specifically expressed in adipose tissue (1-3). Adiponectin includes a collagen-like domain, and in this domain, three adiponectin peptides form one stable trimer and the trimers further multimerize to form "bouquet" forms (Fig. 1). In human plasma, adiponectin was found to circulate as a trimer, a hexamer, and a highmolecular-weight (HMW) multimer, and we purified the HMW adiponectin of 420 kDa from human serum using gelatin-Cellulofine and previously reported it as the gelatin binding protein of 28 kDa (GBP28) in 1996 (4).Plasma adiponectin levels are reported to be decreased in obese individuals, to be negatively correlated with visceral fat accumulation, and to be significantly lower in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (5-7). Adiponectin mRNA levels are significantly reduced in omental adipose tissue of obese patients with type 2 diabetes compared with lean and obese normoglycemic subjects, and although less pronounced, the levels are also reduced in subcutaneous adipose tissue of type 2 diabetic patients (8). Plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with acute coronary syndrome, both acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris, are significantly lower than those in patients with stable angina pectoris and in controls, and a low adiponectin concentration is correlated independently with the development of an acute coronary disease (9). Plasma adiponectin levels are an inverse predictor of the cardiovascular outcome in patients with end-stage renal disease (10). Tietge et al. (11) reported that plasma adipon...
Strong films were prepared from an RNA/lipid complex by casting from organic solutions. RNA (mainly tRNA) was extracted from yeasts, followed by a replacement of the sodium counterions of the tRNA phosphate units by cationic amphiphiles. RNA units in the RNA/lipid film could be aligned in one direction by stretching due to the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The film showed physical strength and was biodegradable.
Aim: We compared the efficacy and safety of pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination with those of pitavastatin monotherapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Methods: This trial was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group trial. A total of 293 patients were randomly assigned into four groups receiving 2 mg pitavastatin, 4 mg pitavastatin, 2 mg pitavastatin/10 mg ezetimibe (K-924 LD), and 4 mg pitavastatin/10 mg ezetimibe (K-924 HD) once daily for 12 weeks. Results: The percentage changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the primary endpoint, were −39.5% for 2 mg pitavastatin, −45.2% for 4 mg pitavastatin, −51.4% for K-924 LD, and −57.8% for K-924 HD. Compared with pitavastatin monotherapy, the pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination significantly reduced LDL-C, total cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Meanwhile, the cholesterol synthesis marker, lathosterol, was significantly decreased with pitavastatin monotherapy and the pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination, although the decrease was attenuated in the latter. On the other hand, the cholesterol absorption markers, beta-sitosterol and campesterol, were reduced with the fixed-dose combination but not with pitavastatin monotherapy. The incidence of adverse events and adverse drug reactions was not significantly different between the two groups receiving the fixed-dose combination and monotherapy. The mean values of laboratory tests that are related to liver function and myopathy increased but remained within the reference range in all groups. Conclusions: The pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination showed an excellent LDL-C-reducing effect by the complementary pharmacological action of each component, and its safety profile was similar to that of pitavastatin monotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04289649).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.