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High-throughput Nitrobenzoxadiazole-labeled Cholesterol Efflux Assay
Published on: January 7, 2019
Inverse Correlation of Cholesterol Efflux Capacity with Peripheral Plaque Volume Measured by 3D Ultrasound
Maria Noflatscher1, Monika Hunjadi2, Michael Schreinlechner1
1Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Insights
Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) inversely correlates with peripheral plaque volume in patients without lipid-lowering treatment. This finding supports CEC
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Biochemistry
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) involves atherosclerosis, characterized by artery narrowing and blockages.
- Hypercholesterolemia contributes to atherosclerotic plaque development by increasing artery wall cholesterol.
- Reverse cholesterol transport, mediated by high-density lipoprotein (HDL), removes cholesterol from the periphery to the liver.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between peripheral plaque volume (PV) and cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC).
- To assess CEC as a potential biomarker for atherosclerosis in patients not on lipid-lowering therapy.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 176 patients with cardiovascular risk factors or known CVD, excluding those on lipid-lowering medication.
- Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) was measured using cAMP-treated 3H-cholesterol-labeled J774 cells.
- Peripheral plaque volume (PV) was quantified using 3D ultrasound in carotid and femoral arteries.
Main Results:
- An inverse relationship was observed between high total PV and CEC (p = 0.027).
- No significant association was found between total PV and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), or CETP-mediated cholesterol ester transfer.
Conclusions:
- Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is inversely correlated with peripheral atherosclerosis in patients not undergoing lipid-lowering treatment.
- These findings support the role of CEC in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
Introduction:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a systemic multifocal illness called atherosclerosis that causes artery constriction and blockage. By causing cholesterol to build up in the artery wall, hypercholesterolemia is a major factor in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic plaque development. Reverse cholesterol transport is the process of transporting cholesterol from the periphery back to the liver through cholesterol efflux mediated by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It was suggested that the cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), which is inversely linked with cardiovascular risk, can serve as a stand-in measure for reverse cholesterol transport. In this work, we sought to investigate a potential link between the peripheral plaque volume (PV) and CEC.
Methods:
Since lipid-lowering therapy interferes with CEC, we performed a cross-sectional study of 176 patients (48.9% females) with one cardiovascular risk factor or known CVD that did not currently take lipid-lowering medication. CEC was determined using cAMP-treated 3H-cholesterol-labeled J774 cells. Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP)-mediated cholesterol ester transfer was measured by quantifying the transfer of cholesterol ester from radiolabeled exogenous HDL cholesterol to Apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. PV in the carotid and the femoral artery, defined as the total PV, was measured using a 3D ultrasound system equipped with semi-automatic software.
Results:
In our patients, we discovered an inverse relationship between high total PV and CEC (p = 0.027). However, there was no connection between total PV and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), or CETP-mediated cholesterol ester transfer.
Conclusion:
In patients not receiving lipid-lowering treatment, CEC inversely correlates with peripheral atherosclerosis, supporting its role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
