Gemfibrozil increases apolipoprotein A-I and cholesterol concentrations in human peripheral lymph.
Peripheral lymph lipoproteins were studied in four hyperlipidaemic men before and after 6 weeks of treatment with gemfibrozil, a drug which is known to increase the fractional catabolic rate of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) by raising lipoprotein lipase activity in peripheral tissues. Decreases in plasma triglycerides of 18-60% (mean, 45%) were accompanied by increases in lymph apolipoprotein (apo) A-I concentration of 30-108% (mean, 66%; P < 0.01), and in lymph cholesterol concentration of 35-100% (mean, 59%; P < 0.05). The additional lymph cholesterol was distributed over a broad range of lipoprotein particle sizes. Effects on plasma apo A-I concentration (mean, +7%) and plasma total cholesterol concentration (-7%) were not statistically significant. No changes were observed in four untreated control subjects. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that lipolysis of VLDL at the blood-endothelium interface increases the transfer of apo A-I from plasma to interstitial fluids, and thereby promotes cholesterol efflux from cells.
Reichl
D
D
Department of Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem.
Miller
N E
NE
Sterchi
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D008196:Lymph / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008055:Lipids; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D015248:Gemfibrozil