Apolipoprotein A-I-derived amyloid in atherosclerosis. Its association with plasma levels of apolipoprotein A-I and cholesterol.
Wild-type apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I)-derived amyloid commonly occurs in atherosclerotic plaques. To clarify apo A-I amyloid formation, plasma levels of apo A-I and cholesterol were related to the presence of amyloid in atherosclerotic plaques in 15 patients with peripheral atherosclerosis, subjected to arterial reconstruction. Plasma levels of apo A-I and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were slightly higher in patients with apo A-I-derived amyloid than in those without, but the difference was not significant. Levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol were significantly higher in the group with amyloid. High concentrations of apo A-I in the arterial intima are probably of greater importance to amyloid formation than high plasma levels of the protein. During atherosclerosis, the acute phase reactant serum amyloid A may displace apo A-I from HDL, leading to increased concentration of lipid-free apo A-I in the intima and conformational changes of apo A-I, which make it more fibrillogenic. Some forms of amyloid fibrils have been shown to be cytotoxic. Apo A-I-derived amyloid is possibly a pathogenically important factor in atherosclerosis.
Mucchiano
G I
GI
Division of Molecular and Immunological Pathology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Jonasson
L
L
Häggqvist
B
B
Einarsson
E
E
Westermark
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000682:Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003224:Congo Red; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D000682:Amyloid; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D003224:Congo Red