Lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase in Down's syndrome

Based on earlier reports indicating that Down's syndrome may represent an atheroma-free human model, two groups of institutionalized subjects were compared with respect to various parameters of their plasma lipid transport system. One group of subjects was comprised of Down's syndrome subjects and the second, a group of mentally retarded individuals. Parameters measured included plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein levels (A-I, B, C-III, and E), lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, body mass and blood pressure. Statistical analyses indicated no significant differences between the two groups except for the lower fractional rate of cholesterol esterification (% cholesterol esterified per hour, p = 0.0049) in the Down's syndrome subjects. Adjustment for the effects of body mass and age revealed no other significant differences between the two groups except for a lower molar rate of esterification (nmol cholesterol esterified X h-1 X ml-1, p less than 0.0063) in the Down's syndrome subjects. Additional differences between the two groups were revealed by partial correlational analyses of LCAT activity with the measured parameters or ratios of these parameters which suggests that the composition and/or metabolism of lipoproteins may differ between these two groups. Whether the lower LCAT activity and the other differences reflected by the correlational analyses contribute to the decreased incidence of atherosclerotic lesions in Down's syndrome remains to be elucidated.