title: Decreased PLTP mass but elevated PLTP activity linked to insulin resistance in HTG: effects of bezafibrate therapy.
abstract: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is associated with insulin resistance, increased cholesteryl ester transfer (CET), and low HDL cholesterol. Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) may be involved in these relationships. Associations between CET, lipids, insulin resistance, CETP and PLTP activities, and PLTP mass were investigated in 18 HTG patients and 20 controls. Effects of 6 weeks of bezafibrate treatment were studied in HTG patients. HTG patients had higher serum triglycerides, insulin resistance, free fatty acid (FFA), and CET, lower levels of HDL cholesterol (-44%) and PLTP mass (-54%), and higher CETP (+20%) and PLTP activity (+48%) than controls. Bezafibrate reduced triglycerides, CET (-37%), insulin resistance (-53%), FFA (-48%), CETP activity (-12%), PLTP activity (-8%), and increased HDL cholesterol (+27%), whereas PLTP mass remained unchanged. Regression analysis showed a positive contribution of PLTP mass (P = 0.001) but not of PLTP activity to HDL cholesterol, whereas insulin resistance positively contributed to PLTP activity (P < 0.01). Bezafibrate-induced change in CET and HDL cholesterol correlated with changes in CETP activity and FFAs, but not with change in PLTP activity. Bezafibrate-induced change in PLTP activity correlated with change in FFAs (r = 0.455, P = 0.058). We propose that elevated PLTP activity in HTG is related to insulin resistance and not to increased PLTP mass. Bezafibrate-induced diminished insulin resistance is associated with a reduction of CET and PLTP activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Iris J A M
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Jonkers
authors.forename: Augustinus H M
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Smelt
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Leo M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Scheek
authors.forename: Teus
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Gent
authors.forename: Frits H A F
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: de Man
authors.forename: Arnoud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Laarse
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Tol
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins; D001629:Bezafibrate