The role of high density lipoprotein apolipoprotein CII in triglyceride metabolism

Apolipoproteins C-II and C-III metabolism in hypertriglyceridemic patients. Effect of a drastic triglyceride reduction by combined diet restriction and fenofibrate administration

Four hypertriglyceridemic patients, who had received an equilibrated high calorie diet and no lipid lowering drug for 1 month, were injected intravenously with 125I-apo C-II and 131I-apo C-III labeled homologous lipoproteins. Plasma and urine radioactivity, lipid and apolipoprotein levels were followed at regular intervals for 15 days. At the end of this first kinetic study the patients were advised to adhere for 1 month to a more restricted diet, limited in fat, and were given additionally 300 mg fenofibrate daily. After this treatment, a new kinetic study involving intravenous injection (similar to the first one) was performed. The protocols of both studies were identical. Treatment (diet plus drug) (1) reduced total cholesterol by 26 +/- 8%, triglycerides by 56 +/- 15%, apo C-II by 36 +/- 14%, and apo C-III by 48 +/- 10%; (2) modified the distribution of radioactivity between lipoproteins proportionally to the change in their mass ratio (decrease in VLDL and increase in HDL); (3) changed the kinetics of both apoproteins by rising the fractional removal rate, shortening residence time and decreasing the synthesis rate of both apolipoproteins C-II and C-III. The treatment was, however, unable to reduce the synthesis rate of apo C-III to normal, suggesting a major role of the apoprotein overproduction in the triggering of hypertriglyceridemia.

Plasma apolipoprotein CII levels in hypertriglyceridemia

It is known that hypertriglyceridemia is associated with the elevation of plasma apolipoprotein CII (apoCII). In an attempt to look at the relationship between the two, the present study was conducted. We examined 30 patients with hypertriglyceridemia (TG, 210 to 9,127 mg/dL) and ten normolipidemic controls. Hypertriglyceridemic patients included 7 of type I hyperlipoproteinemia (HL), 17 of type IV, and 6 of type V. Plasma apoCII was measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method. Major cause for any difference in plasma apoCII could be attributed to differences in the TG-rich lipoproteins. Since a model for the lipoprotein structure indicates that TG-rich lipoproteins are spherical, with apoCII as a surface component and TG as a core substance, we calculated the square roots and the cubic roots of the values of apoCII and TG to make comparison possible. When the two variables were plotted on the X and Y axes respectively, we obtained the regression line of square root of apoCII = 0.37 X 3 the square root of TG - 0.03 with a correlation coefficient of r = .95 (P less than 0.001). The result indicates that a lipoprotein structural model accounts well for the relationship between apoCII and TG. Although a previous report suggested a compensatory increase of apoCII in lipoprotein lipase deficiency, our patients with type I HL had apoCII levels similar to those who had comparable levels of plasma TG.

Effect of protein depletion on the VLDL triacylglycerol secretion and apoprotein synthesis by the perfused liver from pregnant rats

The effect of protein depletion in the pregnant rat on the polyunsaturated fatty acid incorporation into very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) has been investigated. The apoprotein pattern of these particles was determined. In in vivo experiments the amounts of serum and liver triacylglycerol were determined. VLDL were isolated and their apo C concentration calculated. In in vitro experiments the radioactivity of [3H]leucine incorporated into VLDL apoproteins was measured. The results show that protein depletion during pregnancy promotes a drastic increase in serum and liver triacylglycerol. The VLDL isolated from these animals show an increase in the triacylglycerol/protein ratio and a decrease in their content of apo C. Meanwhile, a significant reduction in the [3H]leucine incorporation into apo C peptides by the perfused liver of protein depleted rats was detected. On the other hand, protein deprivation did not affect labeled linoleic and arachidonic acid incorporation into triacylglycerol of the newly secreted VLDL. Taking these results together, let us deduce that a defective VLDL is secreted by the liver of the protein depleted pregnant rats. The abnormal composition of these particles may influence its normal metabolism through their effects on lipoprotein lipase and this fact could affect the normal supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids to the fetus.

Effect of human high density lipoproteins, anti-apolipoproteins CII and CIII, and hydrolysis of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol ester on VLDL catabolism in vitro

Lipolysis of human very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was inhibited in the presence of high density lipoproteins (HDL), anti-apolipoprotein (apo) CII, and by increasing the VLDL free cholesterol content but not with anti-apo CIII or lipoprotein-free plasma. The experiments lend direct evidence that the composition of VLDL and their milieu are important determinants of lipolysis by LPL. Apo CIII may not be critical in LPL mediated VLDL catabolism.

In vitro catabolism of human plasma very low density lipoproteins. Effects of VLDL concentration on the interconversion of high density lipoprotein subfractions

The effect of lipolysis of human plasma very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) on the distribution of high density lipoprotein subfractions was studied in an in vitro system consisting of purified bovine milk lipoprotein lipase and albumin. The distribution of lipids and apoproteins (apoC-II and apoC-III) within the lipoprotein fractions corresponding to HDL2 (d = 1.063-1.120 g/ml) and HDL3 (d = 1.120-1.210 g/ml) was dependent upon the concentration of VLDL in the incubation mixture. After lipolysis of an incubation mixture containing VLDL-triglyceride (0.6 mg triglyceride/ml) and HDL3 (0.1 mg protein/ml), most of the lipid and apoproteins were recovered in HDL3. At higher concentrations of VLDL-triglyceride relative to HDL3-protein (1.8 or 2.4 mg of VLDL-triglyceride and 0.1 mg of HDL3-protein) the amount of lipid and apoprotein isolated in the HDL3 density fraction decreased after lipolysis and there was an increase in the amount isolated between d 1.063-1.120 g/ml. These results provide additional evidence for the conversion of HDL3 to HDL2 during lipolysis. Furthermore, they suggest that the relative distribution of plasma HDL2 and HDL3 is related to the rate of catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Cradle-to-grave atherosclerosis: high density lipoprotein cholesterol

This presentation reviews environmental and genetic factors that relate to high density lipoprotein cholesterol, the most potent independent lipoprotein risk factor for coronary heart disease. Although at least three decades of work have focused upon the primary atherogenic lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-LDL), which has a strong positive association with coronary heart disease (CHD), it has only been in the past decade that detailed epidemiologic and biochemical studies have revealed that high density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-HDL) is the most potent lipoprotein cholesterol related to coronary heart disease; this relationship is, however, inverse.

Post-heparin plasma lipoprotein and hepatic lipases. Relationships to high density lipoprotein cholesterol and to apolipoprotein CII in familial hyperalphalipoproteinemic and in normal subjects

Post-heparin lipoprotein lipase (PH-LPL)-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) interrrelationships were assessed in 9 subjects with documented familial hyperalphalipoproteinemia (FHA) and in 8 controls to focus on potential biochemical etiologies of FHA and relationships of HDL-C to triglyceride hydrolysis and PH-LPL. FHA subjects had mean HDL-C and HDL2-C levels > twice controls; their PH-LPL levels (mean +/- SEM) (3.14 +/- 2.3 mumol FFA/h/ml) were also > twice that of controls (15.0 +/- 1.6) (P < 0.01), but post-heparin hepatic lipase levels (PH-HL) in the FHA and control subjects did not differ (18.1 +/- 1.6 vs 26.6 +/- 4.3, P > 0.1). For all subjects (FHA and controls) PH-LPL was positively correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.79, P < 0.01) and with HDL2-C (r = 0.90, P < 0.01), but not with HDL3-C (r = --0.02). There were no significant PH-HL and HDL-C interrelationships, P > 0.1. The amount of apo CII (the primary activator of PH-LPL) in HDL2 was greater in the FHA (mean +/- SEM) (16.1 +/- 2.5 microgram/ml plasma) than in control subjects (4.7 +/- 0.9, P < 0.01). There were strong positive correlations between HDL2 apo CII and both PH-LPL (r = 0.79, P < 0.01) and HDL2-C (r = 0.80, P < 0.01). Apo CII as a percentage of HDL2 protein was higher in FHA than control subjects (mean +/- SEM) (1.2 +/- 0.3% vs 0.5 +/- 0.2%, P < 0.01). Apo CII as a percentage of HDL3 protein was similar in FHA and control subjects. We postulate that increased turnover rate of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins due to high LPL activity may be an important factor leading to the elevation of HDL-C in FHA. The highly significant positive correlation between HDL2-C and PH-LPL provides strong clinical evidence for the theory that HDL2 is formed during the hydrolysis of triglycceride-rich lipoproteins. The high concentration of HDL2 apo CII in FHA subjects may be caused by increased catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the presence of high endothelial LPL, with transfer of apo CII from very low to high density lipoproteins.

Guinea pig very low density lipoproteins are a good substrate for lipoprotein lipase

In contrast to plasma from most other animals, guinea pig plasma causes little or no stimulation of lipoprotein lipase activity. Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) isolated by ultracentrifugation of guinea pig serum caused a definite stimulation of lipase activity, whereas the infranatant inhibited the activity. Gel filtration in 5 M guanidinium hydrochloride of delipidated VLDL demonstrated that the activation was caused by a low molecular weight protein. The VLDL themselves were hydrolized at similar rates as human VLDL both by guinea pig and by bovine lipoprotein lipases. Thus, guinea pig VLDL contain an activator for lipoprotein lipase analogous to that in other animals and there is enough of the activator to support rapid hydrolysis of the VLDL lipids by the lipase.