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The relationship between the electrophoretic mobility of lipoproteins and coronary heart disease
Insights
Low density lipoproteins (LDL) with less sialic acid are linked to coronary atherosclerosis. Increased lipoprotein electrophoretic mobility correlates with more obstructed vessels in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Low density lipoproteins (LDL) in coronary atherosclerosis patients exhibit reduced sialic acid content compared to healthy individuals.
- Desialylated LDL particles are smaller and possess higher electrophoretic mobility, potentially contributing to foam cell formation and atherosclerosis progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between lipoprotein electrophoretic mobility and the number of obstructed vessels in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.
- To explore the role of serum sialidase activity in lipoprotein desialylation within CHD patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of LDL sialic acid content in patients with coronary atherosclerosis versus healthy subjects.
- Measurement of lipoprotein electrophoretic mobility in relation to the number of significantly obstructed vessels.
- Assay of serum sialidase activity in CHD patients with varying degrees of vessel obstruction (single, double-triple vessel disease) and a control group.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was observed between increased lipoprotein electrophoretic mobility and a higher number of significantly obstructed vessels in CHD patients.
- Serum sialidase activity was significantly elevated in patients with single vessel disease (p < 0.01) and double-triple vessel disease (p < 0.001) compared to the control group, indicating increased lipoprotein desialylation.
Conclusions:
- Elevated lipoprotein electrophoretic mobility is associated with increased coronary artery obstruction in CHD.
- Increased serum sialidase activity contributes to lipoprotein desialylation in CHD patients, suggesting a potential mechanism in atherosclerosis development.
Abstract:
Low density lipoproteins (LDL) in patients with coronary atherosclerosis have a substantially lower content of sialic acid when compared with the LDL from healthy subjects. Desialylated LDL have smaller sizes and greater electrophoretic mobilities than sialylated ones. Desialylated LDL may be responsible for the accelerated development of foam cells in atherosclerosis. In the present study, we investigated a relationship between the electrophoretic mobility of lipoproteins and the number of significantly obstructed vessels in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Our findings indicate that when the number of significantly obstructed vessels is increased, the electrophoretic mobility of lipoproteins is high. We also investigated the possible role of serum sialidase activity on lipoprotein desialylation in patients with coronary heart disease. In patients with single vessel disease (p < 0.01) and double-triple vessel disease (p < 0.001) the mean serum sialidase activity was significantly higher than in the control group.