Clinical significance of serum apolipoprotein M level.
BACKGROUND
It is reported that apoM shows a positive correlation with HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and apolipoprotein B (apoB) in plasma, and also that plasma apoM is elevated in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD). However, further evaluation of the clinical significance of apoM might be needed.


METHODS
Therefore, we measured apoM level by ELISA using sera from patients with hyperlipidemia and CLD.


RESULTS
ApoM showed a significant correlation with triglycerides (r = 0.459, p = 0.003) and apolipoprotein E (r = 0.473, p = 0.002), but not with TC (r = 0.172), HDL-C (r = -0.239), LDL-C (r = 0.118), apoA-I (r = -0.117), or ApoB (r = 0.280) in patients including hyperlipidemia. A few immunofixation studies indicated that apoM was predominantly distributed in prebeta lipoproteins. There were no significant changes in apoM in patients with CLD.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are inconsistent with previously reported findings. Distribution of apoM among lipoproteins may be affected by certain physiological or pathological situations. Elevation of apoM in CLD may be questionable. Further investigation remains necessary.
Central Clinical Laboratory, Nara Medical University Hospital, Shijo-Cho 840, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
Shinobu
S
Tanaka
Yasuyuki
Y
Okamoto
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D000075243:Apolipoproteins M; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
C400523:APOM protein, human; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D000075243:Apolipoproteins M; D008055:Lipids; D054834:Lipocalins