Screening for lipoprotein[a] elevations in plasma and assessment of size heterogeneity using gradient gel electrophoresis.
Plasma was screened for the presence of lipoprotein[a] using 2-16% nondenaturing, polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Gels were scanned with a densitometer after staining with Sudan black B. Bands that migrated above low density lipoprotein bands were identified as lipoprotein[a] by immunoblotting with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to apolipoprotein[a]. Lipoprotein[a] was measured by gradient gel electrophoresis and by radioimmunoassay in 115 male patients with premature coronary artery disease and 132 control subjects. Lipoprotein[a] bands were detected in 96.7% of subjects with lipoprotein[a] values above 40 mg/dl; in 31.3% with values between 21 and 40 mg/dl, and in 6.5% with values below 20 mg/dl. This gel methodology is a simple and effective procedure for detecting elevated plasma lipoprotein[a] levels and for investigating size heterogeneity, but does not replace immunoassay for quantitation.
McNamara
J R
JR
Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111.
Campos
H
H
Adolphson
J L
JL
Ordovas
J M
JM
Wilson
P W
PW
Albers
J J
JJ
Usher
D C
DC
Schaefer
E J
EJ
D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL