Alexis Baass

Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Are you Alexis Baass?

Claim your profile

Publications (6)28.72 Total impact

  • Article: Low density lipoproteins delay clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by human subcutaneous adipose tissue.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Objective: Delayed clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) by white adipose tissue (WAT) promotes hypertriglyceridemia and elevated apoB-lipoproteins, which are primarily in the form of LDL. This study examines whether LDL promotes delayed clearance of TRL by WAT. Methods/Results: Following the ingestion of a 13C-triolein-labelled high-fat meal, obese women with high plasma apoB (>median 0.93 g/L, N=11, >98% as IDL/LDL) had delayed clearance of postprandial 13C-triglyceride and 13C-NEFA over 6-hours compared to controls. AUC6hrs of plasma 13C-triglyceride and 13C-NEFA correlated with plasma apoB but not with LDL diameter or adipocytes area. There was no group-difference in 13C-triolein oxidation rate, which suggests lower 13C-NEFA storage in peripheral tissue in women with high apoB. Ex vivo/in vitro; Plasma apoB correlated negatively with WAT 3H-lipids following a 4-hour incubation of women WAT with synthetic 3H-triolein-TRL. LDL-differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes had lower 3H-TRL hydrolysis and 3H-NEFA storage. Treatment of women WAT with their own LDL decreased 3H-TRL hydrolysis and 3H-NEFA uptake. Finally, LDL though not an LPL substrate, reduced LPL-mediate 3H-TRL hydrolysis to similar extent as VLDL and HDL. Conclusion: Exposure to LDL decreases TRL clearance by human WAT ex vivo. This may promote production of apoB-lipoproteins and hypertriglyceridemia through a positive-feedback mechanism in vivo.
    The Journal of Lipid Research 02/2013; · 5.56 Impact Factor
  • Article: White adipose tissue apolipoprotein C-I secretion in relation to delayed plasma clearance of dietary fat in humans.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: White adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction is characterized by delayed clearance of dietary triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL). We reported that apolipoprotein (apo) C-I, a transferable apolipoprotein that inhibits lipoprotein lipase activity when bound to TRL, was produced by a human adipocyte model. Thus, we aimed to determine whether increased WAT apoC-I secretion is related to delayed dietary fat clearance in humans. After the ingestion of a (13)C-triolein-labeled high-fat meal, postmenopausal obese women with high-fasting WAT apoC-I secretion (median >0.81 μmol/L per g/4 hours, n=9) had delayed postprandial plasma clearance of (13)C-triglyceride and (13)C-nonesterified fatty acids over 6 hours compared with controls. WAT apoC-I secretion over 4 hours correlated with fasting total and non-high-density lipoprotein apoC-I but not with high-density lipoprotein apoC-I and was the primary predictor of 4-hour postprandial increases in TRL apoC-I. Correction for TRL apoC-I eliminated the association of WAT apoC-I with 6-hour area under the curve of plasma (13)C-triglyceride; correction for insulin sensitivity or inflammation did not. Finally, in addition to apoC-I, WAT secreted considerable amount of apoC-II, apoC-III, and apoE over 24 hours; however, only WAT apoC-I secretion was associated with 6-hour area under the curve of plasma (13)C-triglyceride. Increased WAT apoC-I secretion in obese women is associated with delayed postprandial dietary fat clearance mediated by increased TRL apoC-I. Thus, we hypothesize that reducing WAT apoC-I secretion ameliorates WAT dysfunction and associated cardiometabolic risks in humans.
    Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 09/2012; 32(11):2785-93. · 6.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: Plasma PCSK9 is associated with age, sex, and multiple metabolic markers in a population-based sample of children and adolescents.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a protein convertase that posttranslationally promotes the degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in hepatocytes and increases plasma LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Heterozygote gain-of-function mutations of PCSK9 are associated with the familial hypercholesterolemia phenotype, whereas loss-of-function variants are associated with reduced LDL-C concentrations and lower coronary risk. Plasma PCSK9 correlates with body mass index, triglyceridemia, total cholesterol, and LDL-C in adults, but no data are available in youth. We studied 1739 French Canadian youth ages 9, 13, and 16 years who participated in the Quebec Child and Adolescent Health and Social Survey, a province-wide school-based survey conducted in 1999. An ELISA assay was used to measure plasma PSCK9. The mean (SD) plasma PCSK9 concentration was 84.7 (24.7) microg/L in the sample. In boys, plasma PCSK9 decreased with age, whereas the inverse was true for girls. There were statistically significant positive associations between PCSK9 and fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance). In multivariable analysis, a 10% higher fasting insulin was associated with a 1%-2% higher PCSK9 in both sexes. There were also positive associations between PCSK9 and total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides, as well as with HDL-C and apolipoproteins A1 and B. PCSK9 is associated with age, sex, and multiple metabolic markers in youth. A novel finding is that PCSK9 is associated with fasting insulinemia, which suggests that PCSK9 could play a role in the development of dyslipidemia associated with the metabolic syndrome. .
    Clinical Chemistry 08/2009; 55(9):1637-45. · 7.91 Impact Factor
  • Article: Characterization of a new LCAT mutation causing familial LCAT deficiency (FLD) and the role of APOE as a modifier gene of the FLD phenotype.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Familial LCAT deficiency (FLD) is a disease characterized by a defect in the enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) resulting in low HDL-C, premature corneal opacities, anemia as well as proteinuria and renal failure. We have identified the first French Canadian kindred with familial LCAT deficiency. Two brothers, presenting classical signs of FLD, were shown to be homozygous for a novel LCAT mutation. This c.102delG mutation occurs at the codon for His35 and causes a frameshift that stops transcription at codon 61 abolishing LCAT enzymatic activity both in vivo and in vitro. It has a dramatic effect on the lipoprotein profile, with an important reduction of HDL-C in both heterozygotes (22%) and homozygotes (88%) and a significant decrease in LDL-C in heterozygotes (35%) as well as homozygotes (58%). Furthermore, the lipoprotein profile differs markedly between the two affected brothers who had different APOE genotypes. We propose that APOE could be an important modifier gene explaining heterogeneity in lipoprotein profiles observed among FLD patients. Our results suggest that a LCAT-/- genotype associated with an APOE epsilon2 allele could be a novel mechanism leading to dysbetalipoproteinemia.
    Atherosclerosis 06/2009; 207(2):452-7. · 3.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: Regulation of poly(A) binding protein function in translation: Characterization of the Paip2 homolog, Paip2B.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The 5' cap and 3' poly(A) tail of eukaryotic mRNAs act synergistically to enhance translation. This synergy is mediated via interactions between eIF4G (a component of the eIF4F cap binding complex) and poly(A) binding protein (PABP). Paip2 (PABP-interacting protein 2) binds PABP and inhibits translation both in vitro and in vivo by decreasing the affinity of PABP for polyadenylated RNA. Here, we describe the functional characteristics of Paip2B, a Paip2 homolog. A full-length brain cDNA of Paip2B encodes a protein that shares 59% identity and 80% similarity with Paip2 (Paip2A), with the highest conservation in the two PABP binding domains. Paip2B acts in a manner similar to Paip2A to inhibit translation of capped and polyadenylated mRNAs both in vitro and in vivo by displacing PABP from the poly(A) tail. Also, similar to Paip2A, Paip2B does not affect the translation mediated by the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, Paip2A and Paip2B differ with respect to both mRNA and protein distribution in different tissues and cell lines. Paip2A is more highly ubiquitinated than is Paip2B and is degraded more rapidly by the proteasome. Paip2 protein degradation may constitute a primary mechanism by which cells regulate PABP activity in translation.
    RNA 09/2006; 12(8):1556-68. · 5.09 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Déficit familial de la LCAT au Québec : description d’une première mutation et contribution du génotype de l’APO E sur le phénotype lipoprotéique
    Alexis Baass
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Le déficit familial de LCAT (FLD) est une maladie caractérisée par un défaut de l’activité de l’enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). Ce défaut résulte en une concentration plasmatique de C-HDL extrêmement basse, des opacités cornéennes prématurées, la présence d’anémie, de protéinurie et d’insuffisance rénale. Nous avons identifié les premiers patients canadiens-français atteints de déficit familial de LCAT. Deux frères, présentant les signes classiques de FLD étaient homozygotes pour une nouvelle mutation du gène de la LCAT: la mutation c.102delG. Cette mutation se traduit au niveau protéique par un changement du cadre de lecture au niveau du codon His35 et l’insertion d’un codon stop en position 61 entraînant une abolition de l’activité LCAT in vitro et in vivo. La présence de cette mutation cause une réduction importante du C-HDL chez les hétérozygotes (22%) et les homozygotes (88%) ainsi qu’une baisse du C-LDL chez les hétérozygotes (35%) et les homozygotes (58%). De plus, le profil lipidique différait de manière importante entre les deux frères atteints de FLD qui présentaient des génotypes APOE différents. Nous suggérons que APOE est un gène qui modifie le phénotype du FLD et pourrait expliquer l’hétérogénéité des profils lipidiques chez les patients atteints de FLD. Nos résultats suggèrent également que l’association du génotype LCAT-/- a un allèle APOE ε2 est un nouveau mécanisme conduisant à la dysbétalipoproteinemie. Finalement nous avons montré des différences importantes dans les sous-populations des HDL chez les deux sujets atteints de FLD. Le porteur de l’allèle APOE ε2 présentait une proportion beaucoup plus importante de HDL immatures (preβ discoïdaux) par rapport a son frère (77.9% vs. 31.0%). Familial LCAT deficiency (FLD) is a disease characterized by a defect in the enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) resulting in low HDL-C, premature corneal opacities, anaemia as well as proteinuria and renal failure. We have identified the first French Canadian kindred with familial LCAT deficiency. Two brothers, presenting classical signs of FLD, were shown to be homozygous for a novel LCAT mutation. This c.102delG mutation occurs at the codon for His35 and causes a frameshift that stops transcription at codon 61 abolishing LCAT enzymatic activity both in vivo and in vitro. It has a dramatic effect on the lipoprotein profile, with an important reduction of HDL-C in both heterozygotes (22%) and homozygotes (88%) and a significant decrease in LDL-C in heterozygotes (35%) as well as homozygotes (58%). Furthermore, the lipoprotein profile differs markedly between the two affected brothers who had different APOE genotypes. We propose that APOE could be an important modifier gene explaining heterogeneity in lipoprotein profiles observed among FLD patients. Our results suggest that a LCAT-/- genotype associated with an APOE ε2 allele could be a novel mechanism leading to dysbetalipoproteinemia. Finally we have identified major differences in the HDL sub-populations of both subjects affected by FLD. The carrier of the APOE ε2 allele presented a much higher proportion of immature HDL particles (discoid preβ) compared to his brother (77.9% vs. 31.0%).