High Density Lipoproteins in Cholestasis

Abstract

Blomhoff, J. P. High density lipoproteins in cholestasis. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 591–596.

Two patients with cholestasis with increased concentration of plasma free cholesterol and phospholipids, but normal concentration of cholesteryl esters, were studied. The plasma LCAT activity was normal in one patient and slightly decreased in the other. High density lipoproteins (HDL) were isolated by ultracentrifugation and gelfiltration on hydroxylapatite. By subsequent filtration through Sephadex G-200, the HDL of patients with cholestasis were separated into two peaks, whereas normal HDL were eluted in one peak. The major peak was eluted with or slightly after the void volume. This elution pattern was similar to that previously described for HDL of patients with familial LCAT deficiency. All subfractions contained relatively more polar than apolar lipids. The demonstration of heterogeneity of HDL in cholestasis, irrespective of an even normal capacity for plasma cholesterol esterification, supports the theory that the increase of plasma cholesterol and phospholipids in cholestasis may exceed the capacity of the LCAT enzyme.

Key-words::

• Cholestasis
• cholesterol
• gelfiltration
• high density lipoproteins
• phospholipids
• plasma cholesterol esterification