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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
High-Density Lipoprotein-Specific Phospholipid Efflux Assay
Published on: September 30, 2025
LCAT-dependent conversion rate is a determinant of plasma prebeta1-HDL concentration in healthy Japanese
Takashi Miida1, Konen Obayashi, Utako Seino
1Division of Clinical Preventive Medicine, Department of Community Preventive Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Asahimachi 1-757, Niigata, Niigata 951-8510, Japan. miida@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Background:
Prebeta1-HDL acts as a primary acceptor of cellular cholesterol. Prebeta1-HDL is converted into alpha-migrating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) by lecithin/cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). We examined whether the LCAT-dependent conversion rate of prebeta1-HDL is a determinant of the plasma prebeta1-HDL concentration in healthy Japanese.
Methods:
We measured the conversion half time (CHT(prebeta1)), the time required for 50% of baseline prebeta1-HDL to be changed into alpha-migrating HDL by LCAT, in 100 healthy Japanese (47 men, 53 women, 22-88 years).
Results:
Prebeta1-HDL concentration, as determined by immunoassay, was significantly lower in younger women (<50 years, n=24) than in older women (>or=50 years, n=29) (16.8+/-3.3 vs. 21.7+/-8.0 mg/l apolipoprotein AI (apoAI), p<0.01). There was no significant difference in prebeta1-HDL concentration between younger (n=24) and older (n=23) men (21.2+/-6.8 vs. 22.5+/-6.6 mg/l apoAI). The mean CHT(prebeta1) for all subjects was 47.4+/-13.0 min, and was not influenced by gender or age. Prebeta1-HDL concentration was positively correlated with CHT(prebeta1) in both men and women, suggesting that high prebeta1-HDL levels may reflect delayed conversion of prebeta1-HDL.
Conclusion:
LCAT-dependent conversion rate is a determinant of plasma prebeta1-HDL concentration in healthy Japanese. We speculate that prebeta1-HDL concentration may be used as a metabolic marker for HDL maturation.
