New in vitro findings on the "free" form of apolipoprotein A-1.
Clinical and experimental gerontologists are extremely interested in lipoproteins as well as in new methods for investigating and probing the apolipoprotein pattern. Using immunofixation electrophoresis, we separated free apolipoprotein A-1 from the apo A-1 associated with high-density lipoproteins. Free apolipoprotein A-1 is a low-molecular-mass form of apo A-1 that seems to contain an extremely low quantity of lipids. The use of IFE as a tool for probing free apo A-1 has revealed new and interesting findings, such as its "artificial" increase during serum conservation at temperatures between 0-4 degrees C. From the clinical point of view, we demonstrated a decrease to the point of disappearance of free apo A-1 in some patients with liver cirrhosis. Moreover, one of the main findings here reported is the failure of anti-human apo A-1 murine monoclonal antibody and monoclonal antibody mixture to precipitate free apo A-1 in agarose systems. This discovery has important implications both for basic knowledge on apolipoproteins and for practical reasons concerning variability in those immunoassays (radial immunodiffusion) utilizing monoclonal antibody mixtures.
Giunta
S
S
Servizio Ricerche Chimico Cliniche, Carattere Scientifico I.N.R.C.A., Rome, Italy.
Maddalena-Peruzzi
A
A
Gaudio
M R
MR
Semprini
A
A
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000737:chemistry; D004586:Electrophoresis; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D011233:Precipitin Tests
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL