Relationship between plasma HDL subclasses distribution and lipoprotein lipase gene HindIII polymorphism in hyperlipidemia

BACKGROUND: Different high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses have distinct but interrelated metabolic functions. HDL directly influences the atherogenic process, and changes in HDL subclasses distribution may be related to the incidence and prevalence of atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is an important enzyme for hydrolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and its activity is positively correlated with the plasma HDL cholesterol level. LPL gene HindIII polymorphism has been found associated with variations in lipid levels, but the impact on HDL subclasses distribution is less clearly established. METHODS: The relative apolipoprotein (apo) A-I contents (% apoA-I) of plasma HDL subclasses were determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with immunodetection and LPL gene HindIII polymorphism was assayed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 173 hyperlipidemic and 155 normolipidemic subjects. RESULTS: The frequencies of 495TT genotype and allele T were the highest both in the hyperlipidemic and control groups. Compared with the control group, the frequency of 495TT genotype was higher, while the frequencies of 495TG and 495GG genotypes were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the hyperlipidemic group. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunodetection showed that HDL subclasses distribution was altered in hyperlipidemia, and had a general shift toward smaller size. Compared with the control group, the hyperlipidemic group had significantly higher relative apoA-I contents of prebeta1-HDL, prebeta2-HDL, HDL3b and HDL3a (P<0.05) and lower HDL2a and HDL2b levels (P<0.001). In the hyperlipidemic group, allele T carriers' frequency was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the genotype of 495TT showed higher levels of plasma TG, apoB100, TG/HDL-C ratio, relative apoA-I contents of prebeta1-HDL, HDL3b and lower HDL2a, HDL2b compared with that of the 495GG genotype subgroup (P<0.05). In the control group, the genotype of 495TT had higher plasma TG, HDL3c and lower HDL2a compared with that of 495GG subgroup (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 495TT genotype of LPL gene HindIII polymorphism was associated with changes of HDL subclasses distribution in Chinese population with hyperlipidemia. The particle size of HDL shifted toward smaller, which, in turn, indicated that RCT might be weakened and HDL maturation might be abnormal in hyperlipidemic subjects with 495TT genotype.