Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against human apolipoprotein E.

From a single cell fusion, five stable hybridomas secreting antiapolipoprotein E (apo E) were obtained. The immunoglobulin (Ig)G subclasses containing the respective monoclonal antibodies were isolated and were used as the antibody component in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The binding of 125I-apo E to the insolubilized antibody was inhibited by unlabeled apo E but not by unlabeled apoproteins A-I, A-II, C-II, and C-III, or by low density lipoprotein immunodepleted of endogenous apo E. Competition curves were obtained with lipoprotein subfractions that had the same shape as those obtained with purified apo E. Apo E levels in normal and hyperlipidemic plasma were well correlated when measured by the five monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal anti-apo E, although differences in absolute values were observed. In normal subjects 34, 10, 20, and 36% of apo E was recovered in the very low density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and the d greater than 1.21-gl/ml fractions, respectively, whereas these values were 34, 7, 12, and 47%, respectively, in type III patients. All antibodies indicated the same subfraction distribution of apo E. The monoclonal antibodies reacted with all of the isomorphs of apo E. One of the antibodies could be clearly distinguished by its reactivity with chemically modified very low density lipoprotein

Premature atherosclerosis in patients with xanthelasma.

BACKGROUND: Only about half the patients with xanthelasma are hyperlipidemic. The clinical significance of xanthelasma as a marker of cardiovascular disease is not yet well defined. OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic xanthelasma. METHODS: Carotid ultrasonography (7 MHz using B-mode images, Advanced Technology Laboratories) was used to detect carotid plaques and measure the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries. Seventeen patients with normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic xanthelasma were examined and compared with 21 age-matched normal subjects. RESULTS: The risk of cardiovascular disease was significantly increased in patients with xanthelasma. Carotid plaques were more frequent in patients with xanthelasma than in controls (64.7% and 23.8%, respectively; P = 0.020), and IMT was significantly higher (mean +/- SD: 1.1 +/- 0.1 and 0.6 +/- 0.2 mm, respectively; P < 0.001). The difference of carotid IMT between normolipidemic xanthelasma and hyperlipidemic xanthelasma was not statistically different (mean +/- SD: 1.1 +/- 0.1 and 1.1 +/- 0.2 mm, respectively; P = 0.577). CONCLUSION: Premature carotid atherosclerosis is observed in patients with normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic xanthelasma. Patients with xanthelasma should be considered to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease independently to the level of plasma lipids. A larger number of patients is, however, needed to confirm this preliminary study