title: Immunochemical characterization and quantitation of lipoprotein (a) in baboons. Development of an assay depending on two antigenically distinct proteins.
abstract: We have raised specific antibodies against the protein component of baboon lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a]. Apolipoprotein (apo) Lp(a) is a very large protein which separates into two distinct proteins, apo B and apo (a), when 2-mercaptoethanol is included during sample treatment for sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis. The antibodies were specific for baboon apo (a) and apo B. The presence of the two distinct antigens in the lipoprotein permitted the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that was specific for Lp(a) particles in serum. The assay could detect less than 1 ng of Lp(a) protein per well and was useful in the range of 1-9 ng. The assay was specific for Lp(a) and did not respond to other lipoproteins, such as low density lipoprotein. Lp(a) could be accurately quantitated in serum frozen at -80 degrees C in plastic tubing segments. Using the Lp(a) assay, the mean serum level of 80 unrelated baboons was 4.7 mg/dl, with the distribution skewed toward the lower levels. These data further support the value of the baboon as a model of the atherogenic lipoprotein Lp(a).
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, TX 78284.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rainwater
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Manis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000276:immunology; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000276:immunology; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015151:Immunoblotting; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D010215:Papio / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008074:Lipoproteins