Quantitation of apolipoprotein E

Quantitation of apoE has proved to be extremely useful in studies of the regulation of apoE synthesis and metabolism. Measurement of serum apoE and/or its distribution among the lipoprotein classes may have clinical utility, although this remains to be established. Some of the unique properties of apoE such as its genetic, chemical, and structural heterogeneity, its propensity to self-associate, and its ability to freely exchange on the surfaces of a wide variety of lipoprotein classes are factors that should be considered in measurements of apoE. The availability of commercial kits and reagents for human apoE quantitation make the development of apoE immunoassays readily achievable in most research and clinical laboratories.