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Lipoprotein lipase mass and activity in severe hypertriglyceridemia
J Kobayashi1, H Hashimoto, I Fukamachi
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.
Summary
Defective lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a role in hypertriglyceridemia. Measuring LPL mass in post-heparin plasma (PHP) helps identify functionally defective LPL in patients, with up to 30% of severe cases potentially affected.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Metabolic Disorders
- Enzymology
Background:
- Hypertriglyceridemia is a lipid disorder associated with cardiovascular risk.
- The precise role of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) dysfunction in severe hypertriglyceridemia requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contribution of defective lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to hypertriglyceridemia.
- To assess the utility of measuring LPL mass and activity in post-heparin plasma (PHP) for identifying LPL dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Developed a sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay for quantifying human LPL mass in PHP.
- Measured LPL mass and activity in PHP from normal controls and patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia.
- Calculated specific activity of LPL based on mass and activity measurements.
Main Results:
- Plasma LPL mass positively correlated with LPL activity after heparin injection.
- A significant proportion of hypertriglyceridemic patients (27%) exhibited reduced LPL mass.
- 30% of patients showed significantly low LPL specific activity despite normal LPL mass, indicating functional defects.
Conclusions:
- Quantification of LPL mass in PHP is a valuable tool for detecting functionally defective LPL in hypertriglyceridemia.
- Up to 30% of patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia may have functionally impaired LPL, contributing to their condition.