title: Very small apolipoprotein A-I-containing particles from human plasma: isolation and quantification by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very small apolipoprotein (apo) A-I-containing lipoprotein (Sm LpA-I) particles with pre-beta electrophoretic mobility may play key roles as "nascent" and/or "senescent" HDL; however, methods for their isolation are difficult and often semiquantitative.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a preparative method for separating Sm LpA-I particles from human plasma by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HP-SEC), using two gel permeation columns (Superdex 200 and Superdex 75) in series and measuring apo A-I content in column fractions in 30 subjects with HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations of 0.4-3.83 mmol/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three major sizes of apo A-I-containing particles were detected: an approximately 15-nm diameter ( approximately 700 kDa) species; a 7. 5-12 nm (100-450 kDa) species; and a 5.8-6.3 nm species (40-60 kDa, Sm LpA-I particles), containing 0.2-3%, 80-96%, and 2-15% of plasma total apo A-I, respectively. Two subjects with severe HDL deficiency had increased relative apo A-I content in Sm LpA-I: 25% and 37%, respectively. The percentage of apo A-I in Sm LpA-I correlated positively with fasting plasma triglyceride concentrations (r = 0. 581; P <0.0005) and inversely with total apo A-I (r = -0.551; P <0. 0013) and HDL-C concentrations (r = -0.532; P <0.0017), although the latter two relationships were largely attributable to extremely hypoalphalipoproteinemic subjects. The percentage of apo A-I in Sm LpA-I correlated with that in pre-beta-migrating species by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (r = 0.98; P <0.0001; n = 24) and with that in the d >1.21 kg/L fraction by ultracentrifugation (r = 0.86; P <0. 001; n = 20). Sm LpA-I particles, on average, appear to contain two apo A-I and four phospholipid molecules but little or no apo A-II, triglyceride, or cholesterol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present a new HP-SEC method for size separation of native HDL particles from plasma, including Sm Lp A-I, which may play important roles in the metabolism of HDL and in its contribution(s) to protection against atherosclerosis. This method provides a basis for further studies of the structure and function of Sm Lp A-I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Biochemistry, St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Charterhouse Square, London EC1 M 6BQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Nanjee
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Brinton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I