title: The role of apoproteins in disorders of lipoprotein metabolism.
abstract: Apolipoproteins are essential components of plasma lipoproteins. They facilitate the absorption and secretion of fat from the intestine, serve as activators of enzymes of lipoprotein metabolism and act as ligands for lipoprotein receptors on cell surfaces. Changes in the apoprotein quantity or composition affect plasma lipid concentrations. Specific examples of apolipoprotein alterations are known for apo A-I, apo B, and for C and E apolipoproteins. With the availability of both apolipoprotein protein and gene analytical techniques both quantitative and qualitative assays of apolipoproteins are becoming more important in the diagnosis of lipoprotein disorders. Assays of apo A-I, apo B and, less frequently, apo C-II and E apolipoproteins are useful diagnostic tools, if performed properly. Major problems with the standardization and quality control of these assays remain to be solved.
authors.affiliation: Shaughnessy Hospital Lipid Research Group, Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Frohlich
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Seccombe
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pritchard
mesh_terms: D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001056:Apolipoproteins C / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001056:Apolipoproteins C; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001059:Apoproteins; D008074:Lipoproteins