[Plasma glycosphingolipids: concentration and distribution in different types of hyperlipoproteinemia (author's...

There are mainly four neutral glycosphingolipids in human blood plasma: Monohexosyl, dihexosyl, trihexosyl and tetrahexosyl ceramide. In patients with hyperlipoproteinemia (hlp) type IIa (n = 10), type IIb (n = 9), type IV (n = 24), and type V (n = 11) all four fractions of plasma glycosphingolipids were elevated compared to healthy subjects (n = 23). In all types of hlp monohexosyl ceramides were significantly augmented (p less than 1%). Trihexosyl and tetrahexosyl ceramides demonstrated only in single types statistically striking elevation. There was no significant elevation of dihexosyl ceramides. In the VLDL the distribution of all glycosphingolipids showed increase in hlp type IV and type IIb. In the LDL the distribution showed increase in type IIa. There exists a strong correlation with the elevated prae-beta-lipoproteins respectively beta-lipoproteins. It is concluded that elevation of glycosphingolipid levels in plasma is a metabolic consequence of hyperlipoproteinemia. It is considered that a part of plasma glycosphingolipids is de novo synthesized by the liver like VLDL. The role of plasma glycosphingolipids in atherogenesis is discussed.