Active plasma phospholipid transfer protein is associated with apoA-I- but not apoE-containing lipoproteins

Plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is a multifaceted protein with diverse biological functions. It has been shown to exist in both active and inactive forms. To determine the nature of lipoproteins associated with active PLTP, plasma samples were adsorbed with anti-A-I, anti-A-II, or anti-E immunoadsorbent, and PLTP activity was measured in the resulting plasma devoid of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), apoA-II, or apoE. Anti-A-I and anti-A-II immunoadsorbents removed 98 +/- 1% (n = 8) and 38 +/- 25% (n = 7) of plasma PLTP activity, respectively. In contrast, only 1 +/- 5% of plasma PLTP activity was removed by anti-E immunoadsorbent (n = 7). Dextran sulfate (DS) cellulose did not bind apoA-I, but it removed 83 +/- 5% (n = 4) of the PLTP activity in plasma. In size-exclusion chromatography, PLTP activity removed by anti-A-I or anti-A-II immunoadsorbent was associated primarily with particles of a size corresponding to HDL, whereas a substantial portion of the PLTP activity dissociated from DS cellulose was found in particles larger or smaller than HDL. These data show the following: 1) active plasma PLTP is associated primarily with apoA-I- but not apoE-containing lipoproteins; 2) active PLTP is present in HDL particles with and without apoA-II, and its distribution between these two HDL subpopulations varies widely among individuals; and 3) DS cellulose can remove active PLTP from apoA-I-containing lipoproteins, and this process creates new active PLTP-containing particles in vitro.