Human adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase: comparison of assay methods and expressions of activity

There was a positive correlation in normal man between heparin releasable lipoprotein lipase and lipoprotein lipase of ammonium hydroxide homongenate of acetoneether powder in adipose tissue. Heparin releasable as lipoprotein lipase activity was about twice as high as the enzymatic activity in acetone powder, even though 40-70% of the original activity remained in the tissue after incubation with heparin. This might indicate that activation of the enzyme is associated with its release by heparin from tissue. The lipoprotein lipase activity per unit weight and per fat cell were affected differently by obesity: In obese subjects lipoprotein lipase per unit weight was propotionally lower than the activity per fat cell. The expression of activity per fat cell appears to avoid the effect of obesity, and hence increased fat cell size, on values obtained.