Elevated levels of preß1-high-density lipoprotein are associated with cholesterol ester transfer protein, the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Preß1-high-density lipoprotein (preß1-HDL), plays an important role in reverse cholesterol transport and exhibits potent risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the association of plasma preß1-HDL and cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) levels in CAD patients and the relationship of preß1-HDL with extent of CAD are debatable. METHODS: Preß1-HDL and CETP levels were measured by enzymed-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAs) in 88 acute coronary syndromes (ACS), 79 stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) patients and 85 control subjects. The correlation analyses, multiple linear regression analyses and logistic regression analyses were performed, respectively. RESULTS: The preß1-HDL and CETP levels in ACS patients were significantly higher than those in SCAD patients and both of them were higher than controls'. Preß1-HDL levels were positively associated with CETP (R = 0.348, P = 0.000), the diameter of stenosis (R = 0.253, P = 0.005), the number of vessel disease (R = 0.274, P = 0.002) and Gensini score (R = 0.227, P = 0.009) in CAD patients. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses showed that CETP was one of the determinants of preß1-HDL levels. Logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated preß1-HDL and CETP were potential risk factors for both ACS and SCAD. CONCLUSION: The elevated preß1-HDL levels may change with CETP concentrations in CAD patients and were related to the presence and severity of CAD.

[Lipids in the sperm plasma membrane and their role in fertilization].

Sexual reproduction is marked by the fusion of the sperm cell with the oocyte during fertilization to produce the diploid zygote, in which the lipids in the sperm plasma membrane play an important role. Due to the loss of most cell organelles and DNA transcription, spermatozoa lack protein expression and vesicular transport. However, the lipids of the sperm plasma membrane undergo complicated dynamic changes, which may facilitate the capacitation, binding with zona pellucida, acrosome reaction and fusion of the sperm cell with the oocyte. This paper summarizes the progress in the studies of the lipids in the sperm plasma membrane, their composition, structure, peroxidation, metabolism and role in fertilization.

Elevated serum ß2-glycoprotein-I-lipoprotein(a) complexes levels are associated with the presence and complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To examine the serum levels of ß2-glycoprotein I-lipoprotein(a) complexes [ß2-GPI-Lp(a)] in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and evaluate the association of the complexes with complications in T2DM. METHODS: Fifty two T2DM patients (22 with complications and 30 free of complications) and 52 age/gender-matched healthy controls were studied. Serum concentrations of ß2-GPI-Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) were measured by "sandwich" ELISAs and their associations with complications were examined using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Mean serum ß2-GPI-Lp(a) (1.19 ± 0.30 U/mL vs. 0.89 ± 0.20 U/mL, p<0.001) and ox-Lp(a) concentrations (13.34 ± 11.73 mg/L vs. 5.26 ± 3.34 mg/L, p<0.001) were both significantly higher in T2DM than in controls. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for ß2-GPI-Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) was 0.725 and 0.738, respectively. ß2-GPI-Lp(a) levels were markedly higher in patients with complications than those without complication (1.39 ± 0.28 U/mL vs. 1.04 ± 0.31 U/mL, p<0.01), whereas no marked difference was found in ox-Lp(a). In multivariate regression analysis, the association between ß2-GPI-Lp(a) and complications remained significant (ß=0.249, p<0.05, respectively) after adjustments were made for other traits. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated ß2-GPI-Lp(a) may reflect chronic underlying pathophysiological processes involved in development of complications of T2DM.

Lipoprotein(a) complexes with beta2-glycoprotein I in patients with coronary artery disease.

AIM: To investigate the possible mechanisms and association of increased complexes of ß(2)-glycoprotein I with lipoprotein(a) [ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a)] levels with the presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a) levels were measured in 116 patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), 72 patients with stable CAD and 100 control subjects. RESULTS: Compared to the control, ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a) levels (expressed after logarithmically transformation: ACS, 0.22±0.45 U/mL; stable CAD, 0.05±0.55 U/mL; control, -0.31±0.61 U/mL) significantly increased in both patients with ACS (p <0.001) and stable CAD (p <0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors revealed that the presence of ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) or Lp(a) was a strong risk factor for stable CAD [ß(2)GPI-Lp(a), OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.65, 6.07; ox-Lp(a), OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.33, 4.85; Lp(a), OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.56, 5.75; respectively], and especially for ACS [ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a), OR 5.38, 95% CI 2.97, 9.74; ox-Lp(a), OR 7.55, 95% CI 4.12, 13.84; Lp(a), OR 4.33, 95% CI 2.40, 7.80; respectively]. In multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, sex and plasma lipid levels, the presence of ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a) or Lp(a) was a risk factor for both stable CAD and ACS. Ox-Lp(a) was a risk factor only for ACS, while not for stable CAD. ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a) levels were found to be positively associated with Lp(a), ox-Lp(a), maximal stenosis and a number of vessel diseases in patients with ACS or stable CAD, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis found that ox-Lp(a) and maximal stenosis accounted for 46.2% of the variation in ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a) levels. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of ß(2)-GPI-Lp(a) are associated with the presence and severity of CAD, and may be a strong risk factor for atherosclerosis.

The level of native and oxidized lipoprotein(a) in children with nephrotic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], oxidized Lp(a) [ox-Lp(a)] and Lp(a) immune complex [Lp(a)-IC] levels in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). DESIGN AND METHODS: Plasma Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC levels were determined in 106 NS children in acute-period, 42 in remission and 155 controls. RESULTS: Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in acute-period and remission NS than in control. Ox-Lp(a) levels in acute-period NS were higher than in remission. Lp(a)-IC levels in acute-period NS were higher than in control. Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC were found negatively related with albumin in NS. Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC levels decreased after use of steroid therapy. Multiple linear regression analysis found relative change of albumin, creatinine, urea, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol accounted for 78.9% of variation in ox-Lp(a). CONCLUSIONS: Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC levels were increased in NS children, which may play an important role in the processes of atherosclerosis.

Association among retinol-binding protein 4, small dense LDL cholesterol and oxidized LDL levels in dyslipidemia subjects.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) levels and their associations in dyslipidemia subjects. DESIGN AND METHODS: We determined RBP4, sdLDL-C, ox-LDL levels in 150 various dyslipidemia subjects and 50 controls. The correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The RBP4, sdLDL-C and ox-LDL levels were found increased in various dyslipidemia subjects. The sdLDL-C levels were positively correlated with RBP4 (r=0.273, P=0.001) and ox-LDL (r=0.273, P=0.001). RBP4 levels were also correlated with ox-LDL (r=0.167, P=0.043). The multiple regression analysis showed that only sdLDL-C was a significant independent predictor for RBP4 (ß coefficient=0.219, P=0.009; adjusted R(2)=0.041) and ox-LDL (ß coefficient=0.253, P=0.003; adjusted R(2)=0.057) levels, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The independent associations of sdLDL-C with RBP4 and ox-LDL were observed in dyslipidemia subjects. RBP4 may play an important role in lipid metabolism of atherosclerosis, particularly in formation of sdLDL.