Properties of triglyceride-rich and cholesterol-rich lipoproteins in the remnant-like particle fraction of human blood plasma

• Published in: Journal of lipid research 2002-03, Vol.43 (3), p.365-374
• Main Authors: Campos, Elisa, Kotite, Leila, Blanche, Patricia, Mitsugi, Yasushi, Frost, Philip H, Masharani, Umesh, Krauss, Ronald M, Havel, Richard J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal - blood; apolipoproteins; Apolipoproteins B - immunology; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; chromatography; diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Female; Humans; Hyperlipoproteinemias - blood; immunoaffinity; lipoprotein heterogeneity; lipoprotein phenotypes; Lipoproteins - blood; Lipoproteins - chemistry; Lipoproteins - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Particle Size; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 0022-2275
• DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2275(20)30142-5

An immunoassay procedure that quantifies remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol in human blood plasma has shown considerable promise as a clinically applicable risk marker for atherosclerotic disease. The lipoproteins included in this assay include not only certain TG-rich lipoproteins [all particles containing apolipoprotein B-48 (apoB-48) and a fraction of those containing apoB-100] but also a very small proportion of plasma cholesterol-rich lipoproteins. The TG-rich lipoprotein component of RLP has been partially characterized, but relatively little is known about the component cholesterol-rich lipoproteins. We have further characterized the properties of the TG-rich component that is included in RLP in which about 25% of the particles contain apoB-48 and the remainder apoB-100. We show that the cholesterol-rich component is comprised mainly of beta-migrating LDLs that contain predominantly apoB-100. ApoE found in the LDL fraction of RLP resides on pre-beta lipoproteins that lack apoA-I as well as apoB. The TG-rich component of RLP is responsible for increased RLP-cholesterol concentrations associated with hypertriglyceridemia. By contrast, the cholesterol-rich component is a major contributor to plasma RLP-cholesterol in individuals with low plasma TG. Our results suggest that particle heterogeneity in the RLP fraction is likely to affect the ability of RLP-cholesterol concentration to predict atherosclerotic risk. RLP-cholesterol concentrations in individuals with low plasma TG may not have the same clinical significance as they do in those with hypertriglyceridemia.