In vivo transfer of lipoprotein(a) into human atherosclerotic carotid arterial intima.
The aim of this study was to compare the atherogenic potential of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and LDL by measuring the intimal clearance of these two plasma lipoproteins in the atherosclerotic intima of the human carotid artery in vivo. Autologous 131I-Lp(a) and 125I-LDL were mixed and reinjected intravenously 3 hours before elective surgical removal of the arterial intima in four patients. The intimal clearance of Lp(a) and LDL was 229+/-48 and 405+/-127 nL/cm2 per hour, respectively (paired t test; P=.12). The mass accumulation of Lp(a) (114+/-32 ng/cm2 per hour) was on average one 15th that of LDL (paired t test; P=.06), mainly reflecting a low plasma concentration of Lp(a) compared with LDL in the human subjects studied. In accordance with our previous observation in rabbits, there was a positive association between the intimal clearance of LDL and that of Lp(a) (r=.97, P=.03). Accordingly, high plasma levels of Lp(a) may share with LDL the potential for causing lipid accumulation in the arterial intima in humans.
Nielsen
L B
LB
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Herlev, Denmark.
Grønholdt
M L
ML
Schroeder
T V
TV
Stender
S
S
Nordestgaard
B G
BG
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL