Changes in very low density lipoprotein apolipoproteins in diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

Diabetics often have elevated levels of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) which could contribute to the greatly increased risk of atherosclerosis demonstrated by diabetics. A study of the apolipoproteins of VLDL from diabetic and control subjects has been carried out. VLDL apolipoproteins were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which showed that diabetic VLDL contained significantly more apoE relative to other apo1ipoproteins compared to VLDL from controls. Isoelectric focusing analysis of apoE from VLDL demonstrated that there was a significantly greater proportion of the more acidic, minor isoforms of apoE in diabetic than in normal VLDL apolipoproteins. The assay of glycation of apo-VLDL was carried out by reduction with tritiated sodium borohydride. The results showed a significant by greater extent of glycation of apo-VLDL from diabetic subjects compared to controls. The study of ketoacidotic patients indicated that the glycation of apo-VLDL increases when blood glucose is greater than the normal range, but decreases a few days after the patient has been brought back into control. These results indicate that there are several differences between the apo-VLDL composition in diabetic and control subjects. These abnormalities could contribute to the increased risk of atherosclerosis of diabetic subjects.

Date of Award	1985
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath