Endothelial lipase is associated with inflammation in humans.

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which inflammation is linked with plasma endothelial lipase (EL) concentrations among healthy sedentary men. Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured with a highly sensitive commercial immunoassay, plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were measured using a commercial ELISA, and plasma secretory phospholipase A(2) type IIA (sPLA(2)-IIA) concentrations were measured using a commercial assay in a sample of 74 moderately obese men (mean body mass index, 29.8 +/- 5.2 kg/m(2)). Plasma EL concentrations were positively correlated with various indices of obesity, fasting plasma insulin, and plasma CRP, IL-6, and sPLA(2)-IIA concentrations. Multiple regression analyses revealed that plasma CRP concentrations explained 14.5% (P = 0.0008) of the variance in EL concentrations. When entered into the model, LPL activity accounted for 16.1% (P < 0.0001) and plasma CRP concentrations accounted for 20.9% (P < 0.0001) of the variance in EL concentrations. The combined impact of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and of an inflammation score on EL concentrations was investigated. Among subjects with high or low VAT, those having a high inflammation score based on plasma CRP, IL-6, and sPLA(2)-IIA concentrations had increased plasma EL concentrations (P = 0.0005). In conclusion, our data reveal a strong association between proinflammatory cytokines and plasma EL concentrations among healthy people with low or high VAT levels.

Visceral adiposity and endothelial lipase.

CONTEXT: Overexpression of endothelial lipase (EL) has been shown to reduce plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in animal models. However, the extent to which EL contributes to modulate the deteriorated high-density lipoprotein profile observed in obesity in humans is less clear. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the association between levels of obesity and visceral adiposity in particular and plasma EL concentrations. METHODS: Postheparin plasma EL concentrations were measured by ELISA and visceral adiposity by computed tomography in a sample of 80 sedentary men in good health. EL mRNA levels in abdominal sc and omental adipose tissues obtained during abdominal hysterectomies were measured in another sample of 14 women. RESULTS: Plasma EL levels were positively correlated with body mass index (R = 0.46, P < 0.0001), visceral adipose tissue accumulation (R = 0.44, P < 0.0001), and a proatherogenic lipid profile including increased plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. However, EL mRNA levels were similar in sc and omental AT and were 10,000-fold lower than lipoprotein lipase mRNA levels in those tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Increased visceral adiposity is significantly correlated with elevated plasma EL levels, but this association is unlikely to be causal and may reflect other common metabolic alterations.