Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein
Published on: October 12, 2017
JCL roundtable: Apolipoproteins as causative elements in vascular disease
W Virgil Brown1, Frank M Sacks2, Allan D Sniderman3
1Emeritus College, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Insights
Clinical lipidology often relies on cholesterol levels, but particle number and apolipoprotein C3 (apoC3) content in lipoproteins offer better vascular risk prediction. These factors provide crucial insights beyond traditional lipid measures for patient treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Lipidology
- Genetics
Background:
- Traditional clinical lipidology focuses on cholesterol content for risk assessment and therapy targets.
- Current lipid measures, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), can be variable and may not capture all relevant patient risk information.
- Abnormalities in lipoprotein particle number or composition can exist even with normal LDL-C levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of cholesterol content in lipoproteins for defining vascular risk.
- To emphasize the importance of alternative lipid markers, including lipoprotein particle number and apolipoprotein C3 (apoC3) content.
- To explore how genetic studies inform our understanding of vascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical lipidology practices and limitations of current lipid measures.
- Analysis of lipoprotein particle number, specifically apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing particles.
- Investigation of apolipoprotein C3 (apoC3) content within apoB-lipoproteins.
- Incorporation of findings from genome-wide association studies and genetic polymorphism research.
Main Results:
- Lipoprotein cholesterol content is variable and may not accurately reflect individual patient risk.
- Elevated numbers of apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing particles can indicate risk, even with guideline-adherent LDL-C levels.
- Apolipoprotein C3 (apoC3) content in apoB-lipoproteins predicts vascular risk independently of triglycerides or cholesterol levels.
- Genetic studies reveal significant relationships between specific genetic factors and vascular risk.
Conclusions:
- Clinical lipidology should consider lipoprotein particle number and apoC3 content for comprehensive vascular risk assessment.
- These advanced lipid markers offer valuable information beyond traditional cholesterol measurements for guiding patient therapy.
- Genetic insights are crucial for understanding the complex interplay of factors contributing to vascular risk.
Abstract:
In clinical lipidology, we have focused our major efforts in defining risk status and specifying the targets of therapy by using the cholesterol content of the lipoproteins. However, we now know that these measures are variable and that they may not reveal all the valuable information that can be used to treat our patients. The amount of cholesterol in each lipoprotein can be quite different in different patients. The number of particles containing apolipoprotein B (apoB) can be abnormally high with a value for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is within our guidelines. Furthermore, the content of apoC3 in apoB-containing lipoproteins can predict risk without a close association with triglycerides or cholesterol. The genome-wide association studies and studies in special families with known genetic polymorphisms have been particularly revealing relationships between these vascular risk.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...
01:30Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:30Atherosclerosis I: Introduction
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:30Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins