High density lipoprotein metabolism

Triacylglycerol increase in plasma very low density lipoproteins in cyclophosphamide-treated rabbit: relationship with cholesteryl ester transfer activity

We have studied the cholesteryl ester transfer between HDL and VLDL in cyclophosphamide-treated rabbits, in order to explain the abnormal cholesteryl ester partition between these two lipoprotein classes. The hypertriglyceridemia caused by treatment with the drug was associated with cholesteryl ester- and triacylglycerol-rich VLDL and with HDL poor in esterified cholesterol but relatively enriched in triacylglycerol. These two lipoprotein classes were characterized by their chemical composition and by gel filtration chromatography. VLDL particles were slightly larger in size, compared with controls. Different transfer combinations were envisaged between these abnormal lipoproteins and control ones. The transfer study involved the plasma fraction of d greater than 1.21 g/ml containing the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). It appeared that the chemical composition of lipoproteins was responsible for the level of cholesteryl ester transfer between lipoproteins. Actually, when the cholesteryl ester acceptor lipoproteins (VLDL) were enriched in triacylglycerol, the transfer was enhanced. Therefore, the effect of lipolysis on the transfer has also been explored. Lipoprotein lipase seemed to enhance the transfer of cholesteryl ester from HDL to VLDL when these lipoproteins were normal, but an important decline was obtained when triacylglycerol-rich VLDL were lipolyzed. This study defines the relationship between lipoprotein chemical composition and transfer activity of cholesteryl ester from HDL to VLDL.

Effect of sulfonylurea therapy on plasma lipids and high-density lipoprotein composition in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

To assess the effects of sulfonylurea therapy on plasma lipids and high-density lipoprotein composition, 11 obese diabetic Pima Indians with type II, or non-insulin-dependent, diabetes mellitus were studied before and after tolazamide therapy for one month. Diet composition and weight were kept constant, and the data were compared with a control group of 18 age-, sex-, and weight-matched non-diabetic subjects. Improvement of glycemic control was accompanied by significant decreases in total and very-low-density lipoprotein triglycerides. Total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol also declined significantly, and there was an increase in the ratio of high-density lipoprotein to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Concentrations of total high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, phospholipid, and apolipoprotein AI were unchanged. An increase in the proportion of the high-density lipoprotein 2 subfraction, however, was suggested by significant increases in the ratios of high-density lipoprotein 2 to high-density lipoprotein 3 cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI. There was also a change in the composition of the high-density lipoprotein 2 particle, as indicated by changes in the molar ratio of cholesterol to apolipoprotein AI. The data suggest that improvement of glycemic control after sulfonylurea therapy, when weight and diet composition remain constant, reverses several of the lipoprotein abnormalities observed in type II diabetic patients. There was no evidence of changes in lipoproteins in directions associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis.

Apolipoprotein A-I from normal human plasma: definition of three distinct antigenic determinants

We have prepared, selected and cloned four mouse hybridomas that secreted monoclonal antibodies against human plasma apolipoprotein A-I. These antibodies are all of the IgG-I subclass, and were named anti-A-I 6B8, 5G6, 3D4 and 5A6. We characterized the specificity of the antibodies, finding that all four of them reacted similarly, and with only the major proteins having the molecular weight and isoelectric focusing characteristics of apolipoprotein A-I. The antibodies reacted with all known charge-polymorphs of apolipoprotein A-I and pro apolipoprotein A-I. Thus, the polymorphs of apolipoprotein A-I are alike in that they all contain the antigenic sites of these four antibodies. In a solid-phase, antibody competition radioimmunoassay we found inhibition or enhancement of antibody binding to apolipoprotein A-I, according to the pair of antibodies tested. Antibodies 6B8, 5G6 and 3D4 were different from one another and reacted with different antigenic determinants, but 5A6 was similar to 3D4 and reacted at the same site. We compared the reactions of the four antibodies with CNBr-cleaved fragments of apolipoprotein A-I separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We found three different patterns of reaction with the apolipoprotein A-I fragments; 6B8, 5G6 and 3D4 were different, but 5A6 resembled 3D4. Thus, the four antibodies reacted with at least three different antigenic sites in apolipoprotein A-I, which were present in different CNBr fragments of apolipoprotein A-I, but not on fragment 4 which forms the carboxy-terminal segment.