Apolipoprotein A-I-Containing Particles and Reverse Cholesterol Transport in IDDM

Lipoprotein particles containing apoA-l but not apoA-II are, among high-density lipoproteins, effective protectors against atherosclerosis that act by promoting the efflux of cellular cholesterol and the reverse cholesterol transport process. Because previous studies showed that in vitro nonenzymatic glycosylation of HDL impairs HDL receptor-mediated cholesterol efflux, we isolated Lp A-I from two poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetic patients and compared the chemical composition and ability to promote cholesterol efflux with the same particles purified from two matched nondiabetic control subjects. No differences in lipid composition or in the ability to promote cholesterol efflux from cultured adipose cells were noted between the two types of Lp A-I preparations. However, when we separated Lp A-I from diabetic subjects by degree of glycosylation, the specifically glycosylated subfractions were about 50% less effective in producing cholesterol efflux than the nonglycosylated particles.