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Polymorphism of human plasma apolipoprotein C-III at birth and in early neonatal life
W J McConathy1, M A McCaffree, D M Lane
1Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City.
Insights
The ratio of apolipoprotein C-III-1 to apoC-III-2 in newborns reverses after birth, increasing with oral feeding. This suggests intestinal factors influence apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) ratios in infants.
Area of Science:
- Lipid metabolism
- Neonatal physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) is crucial in lipid metabolism.
- Understanding apoC-III polymorphism changes in newborns is vital for assessing metabolic health.
- Maternal and neonatal lipid profiles can differ significantly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) polymorphism from birth to one month of age.
- To analyze the three main polymorphic forms of apoC-III (apoC-III-0, apoC-III-1, apoC-III-2) in maternal and neonatal serum.
- To determine the ratio of apoC-III-1 to apoC-III-2 during the neonatal period.
Main Methods:
- Developed a two-dimensional electrophoresis technique (isoelectric focusing and electroimmunoassay).
- Analyzed maternal serum (n=28) and neonatal serum at birth, 3, 14, and 28 days (n=32).
- Examined apoC-III polymorphism in isolated lipoprotein density classes of cord serum.
Main Results:
- Maternal serum showed typical adult apoC-III-1/apoC-III-2 ratios (1.45).
- Cord sera exhibited a reversed ratio (0.55), confirmed across lipoprotein classes.
- Neonatal serum showed a ratio approaching unity (1.04) by day 3, remaining stable thereafter.
Conclusions:
- The apoC-III-1/apoC-III-2 ratio in normal newborns increases post-birth, mainly due to rising apoC-III-1 levels.
- This ratio shift is associated with oral feeding, indicating potential intestinal influence on apoC-III regulation.
- Neonatal lipid metabolism undergoes significant changes shortly after birth, influenced by feeding and possibly intestinal factors.
Abstract:
Studies were carried out to investigate potential changes in apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) polymorphism from birth through the first month of life. Maternal serum at term and neonatal serum at birth, 3, 14, and 28 days were analyzed for the three principal polymorphic forms of apoC-III: apoC-III-0, apoC-III-1, and apoC-III-2. A two-dimensional electrophoretic procedure combining isoelectric focusing and electroimmunoassay was developed for this purpose. In maternal serum (n = 28), apoC-III-1 to apoC-III-2 ratios (1.45) were typical of normolipidemic adult serum, while the corresponding cord sera (n = 32) had a reversal of the apoC-III-1 to apoC-III-2 ratio (0.55). Basic polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of isolated cord sera lipoprotein density classes confirmed the reversal of the apoC-III-1 to apoC-III-2 ratio in each class. Following birth, the apoC-III-1 to apoC-III-2 ratio reached unity (1.04) at 3 days and did not change significantly thereafter. It can be concluded that the apoC-III-1 to apoC-III-2 ratio in the normal newborn increases shortly after birth primarily due to an increase in apoC-III-1, and this change appears to be associated with oral feeding, suggesting that intestinal factors may play a role in controlling the ratio of plasma apoC-III-1 to apoC-III-2.