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[Changes in the indices affecting the phospholipid structure of high density lipoprotein subfractions in ischemic
Insights
Reduced plasma cholesterol in healthy men correlates with lower oleic and linoleic acids in HDL2 phospholipids. Ischemic heart disease patients show altered lipid profiles and reduced lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity, impacting HDL
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Lipid Metabolism
- Biochemistry
Background:
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays a crucial role in reverse cholesterol transport.
- Alterations in HDL composition are implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease (IHD).
- Understanding the specific changes in HDL subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3) in IHD is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma cholesterol levels and the fatty acid composition of HDL subfractions in healthy men.
- To compare the lipid and phospholipid profiles of HDL subfractions in patients with IHD versus healthy controls.
- To assess the activity of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and the effects of heparin administration in IHD patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of plasma cholesterol and phospholipid fatty acid content in HDL2 and HDL3 subfractions.
- Measurement of the molar ratio of free cholesterol to phospholipids in HDL subfractions.
- Assay of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity.
- Evaluation of the effects of heparin administration on HDL composition and lipid ratios.
Main Results:
- In healthy men, decreased plasma cholesterol correlated with reduced oleic and linoleic acids in HDL2 phospholipids, but not HDL3.
- IHD patients exhibited lower linoleic acid and higher free cholesterol/phospholipid ratios in HDL2 compared to healthy controls with similar HDL cholesterol.
- LCAT activity was lower in IHD patients, and heparin administration improved HDL2 unsaturated phospholipids and reduced cholesterol/phospholipid ratios.
Conclusions:
- Changes in HDL2 and HDL3 physico-chemical properties, including fatty acid composition and cholesterol content, may influence the antiatherogenic potential of HDL.
- IHD is associated with specific alterations in HDL lipid and phospholipid metabolism.
- Heparin may modulate HDL properties, potentially offering therapeutic insights.
Abstract:
As the alpha-cholesterol concentration decreased in blood plasma of healthy men, relative content of oleic and linoleic acids was also decreased in phospholipids of HDL2 subfraction without any alterations in HDL3 fraction. In the patients with ischemic heart disease content of linoleic acid was lower in the phospholipids and the ratio free cholesterol (HDL2 phospholipids was higher as compared with the group of healthy persons exhibiting the similar low content of cholesterol in HDL. The molar ratio free cholesterol) phospholipids was higher in the HDL3 fraction of the patients as compared with healthy persons, however composition of fatty acids was unaltered in the phospholipids Activity of lecithine cholesterol acyltransferase was lower in the patients as compared with healthy persons exhibiting the same content of cholesterol in HDL. Administration of heparin into the patients was responsible for an increase in the level of unsaturated phospholipids in HDL2 fraction (while they decreased in VLDL/as well as for a decrease in the ratio cholesterol/phospholipids. The data obtained suggest that alterations in the physico-chemical properties of the fraction studied might affect the antiatherogenic characteristics of HDL.