Plasma kinetics of an artificial emulsion resembling chylomicrons in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chylomicrons are the lipoproteins that transport dietary lipids in the blood. Although neoplastic diseases are often accompanied by alterations in lipid metabolism, chylomicrons are scarcely explored in cancer, despite their importance for the body's energy supply. Moreover, no data are available regarding chylomicron metabolism in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Chylomicron metabolism in the bloodstream consists of lipolysis by lipoprotein lipase and uptake of remnants by the liver and is difficult to assess in the human body. Among the methods to evaluate this pathway, the determination of the plasma kinetics of triglyceride-rich emulsions that mimic chylomicrons is a practical and straightforward approach. A double-labeled chylomicron-resembling emulsion was injected into 10 patients with CLL and into 11 normolipidemic healthy subjects. The plasma kinetic curves of the emulsion 3H-triglyceride and 14Ccholesteryl ester were determined in plasma samples collected over 30 min. The fractional clearance rate (FCR) of triglycerides in CLL was not changed compared with controls. The FCR of cholesteryl esters was also no different from controls. These results indicate that chylomicron lipolysis and remnant removal are not affected in CLL.