Influences of apolipoprotein CII concentrations on high-density lipoprotein subclass distribution

AIM: To investigate the influence of serum apolipoprotein (apo) CII concentrations on the distribution of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses. METHODS: Serum HDL subclasses in 247 subjects were determined by two dimensional gel electrophoresis-immunodetection. RESULTS: With the increase in serum apolipoprotein CII levels, age, BMI, the contents of TG, TC, apoB100, apoCII, apoCIII, apoE, preβ1-HDL, preβ2-HDL, HDL3b and HDL3a increased significantly, but the contents of HDL-C, HDL2a and HDL2b decreased remarkably. The contents of preβ1-HDL increased with the rise in apoCII and apoA I levels, whereas the content of HDL2b increased with the rise in serum apoA I level in the same apoC II group, but decreased with the increase in serum apolipoprotein CII level in the same apoA I group. With the increase in the ratio of apoCII/ apoCIII, the content of preβ1-HDL elevated, but the content of HDL2b decreased. The correlation analysis illustrated that the apoCII level was positively correlated with preβ1-HDL (r=0.186, P<0.01), but inversely correlated with HDL2b (r=-0.149, P<0.05). The apoA I level was positively associated with all HDL subclasses (r in the range of 0.349-0.587, P<0.01). In addition, the apoCIII level was positively correlated with preβ1-HDL (r=0.184, P<0.01) and preβ2-HDL (r=0.178, P<0.01), while the apoE level was positively correlated with HDL3a (r=0.040, P<0.05). The apoB100 level was inversely correlated with HDL2a (r=-0.102, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The particles of HDL show a general shift towards smaller size with the increase in apoCII levels, indicating that the maturation of HDL is abnormal. Whereas the contents of apoA I level correct the effect of apoCII on the distribution profile of HDL subclasses. The ratio of apoCII/apoCIII might also been taken as one of the indexes reflecting the distribution profile of serum HDL subclasses.