Combined effects of lipid transfers and lipolysis on gradient gel patterns of human plasma LDL

Abstract

The triglyceride content of the plasma very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction is the most important factor affecting the size of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in humans. Because cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) can influence the size distribution of LDL particles in human plasma, the implication of lipid transfers in the formation of small-sized LDL patterns, which have been associated with elevated plasma triglyceride levels, was investigated. The size distribution of LDL particles in 15 plasma samples was determined by electrophoresis of the plasma LDL fraction on 20 to 160 g/L polyacrylamide gradient gels. The apparent diameter of the major LDL subfraction was shown to correlate negatively with triglyceride concentrations (r=-.706, P