Free A-I apolipoprotein and bound A-I apolipoprotein determined by "multiple" crossed immunoelectrophoresis in patients with acute hepatitis and obstructive jaundice]

Crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) using anti-A-I apolipoprotein antiserum gave a large immunoprecipitin peak of bound A-I apolipoprotein (bound A-I) with alpha mobility and a small immunoprecipitin peak of free A-I with pre-beta mobility. The concentrations of free A-I and bound A-I were determined in 7 patients with acute hepatitis (AH) and in 3 patients with obstructive jaundice (OJ) by a "multiple" CIEP designed so that four samples could be simultaneously determined on one agarose-gel plate. The concentrations of bound A-I and free A-I in 40 normolipidemic healthy individuals were 126.5 +/- 16.3 mg/dl and 7.2 +/- 2.2 mg/dl (means +/- SD), respectively. The characteristic findings in CIEP for apo A-I obtained on patients with AH and OJ were the pronounced decrease in bound A-I and the appearance of double peaks with pre-beta mobility, the one on the cathodic side of which was proved to be bound A-I. Hypo-A-I apolipoproteinemia recognized in patients with AH and OJ was due to the decrease of bound A-I. In parallel with the recovery of the hepatic function after treatment, the reduced concentration of bound A-I was gradually normalized, accompanied by restoration of the level of total apo A-I. However, the concentration of free A-I increased in AH and OJ complicated with hypertriglyceridemias, and was not affected by the change in liver function. These findings suggest that free A-I originates from organs other than the liver whereas bound A-I certainly originates from the liver. The determination of bound A-I is clinically useful in AH and OJ.