HDL biology
Lipoprotein lipase deficiency cuts cholesteryl ester transfer despite normal CETP mass, restored by adding lipoprotein lipase (J Lipid Res 1996)
Original title: Reduced cholesteryl ester transfer in plasma of patients with lipoprotein lipase deficiency
Net cholesteryl ester transfer (CET) from HDL to VLDL and LDL was significantly lower in plasma from three patients lacking lipoprotein lipase (LpL) activity than in triglyceride-matched fasting controls (P < 0.001). Chylomicrons isolated from LpL-deficient plasma showed the same low CET activity as intact plasma when combined with HDL and CETP-containing fractions from controls, but preincubating these chylomicrons and large triglyceride-rich lipoproteins with milk LpL stimulated CET capacity 4- to 5-fold, matching control levels after a fat load. Consistent with this, fasting chylomicrons from LpL-deficient subjects had a much higher triglyceride to cholesteryl ester ratio than postprandial control chylomicrons (26.3 versus 6.9), while CETP mass itself did not differ between LpL-deficient and control subjects (1.03 versus 1.58 micrograms/ml). The findings confirm that lipoprotein lipase and its lipolytic products, not CETP mass, are essential for maximal CETP-mediated cholesteryl ester transfer activity.
Original abstract
The net mass transfer of cholesteryl ester (CE) from high density lipoprotein (HDL) to the apolipoprotein (apo) B-containing lipoproteins, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in plasma (cholesteryl ester transfer (CET)) from three patients lacking lipoprotein lipase (LpL) activity was significantly lower (P < 0.001) than in plasma from fasting control subjects with comparable triglyceride levels. Chylomicrons isolated from LpL-deficient fasting plasma showed the same low level of CET activity as observed in the intact plasma when combined with HDL and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-containing d 1.063 g/ml bottom fractions from control subjects. Preincubation of chylomicrons and large triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (Sf > 400) from LpL-deficient plasma with milk LpL, however, stimulated the capacity to engage in CET 4- to 5-fold to the same level as chylomicrons and VLDL from control subjects after a fat load. Consistent with these measurements of CET activity in plasma, chylomicrons obtained from the LpL-deficient subjects after a 14-h fast had higher TG/CE ratios than chylomicrons from controls 3 h after ingesting a fat load (LpL-deficient 26.3 +/- 9.0 vs. controls 6.9 +/- 2.1; mean +/- SD). The mass of CETP did not differ in LpL-deficient and control subjects (LpL-deficient 1.03 +/- 0.22 micrograms/ml vs. controls 1.58 +/- 0.58 micrograms/ml). These studies are consistent with earlier in vitro studies showing that the actions of lipoprotein lipase and its lipolytic products are essential, for maximal cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.