The d < 1.006 lipoproteins of patients in a kindred with atypical dysbetalipoproteinemia induced marked cholesteryl ester accumulation in mouse peritoneal macrophages. The affected family members had severe hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, xanthomatosis, premature vascular disease, the apo-E3/3 phenotype, and a predominance of cholesterol-rich β-very low density lipoproteins (β-VLDL) in the d < 1.006 fraction. When incubated with mouse peritoneal macrophages, the d < 1.006 lipoproteins or β-VLDL from the affected family members stimulated cholesteryl [14C]oleate synthesis 15- to 30-fold above that caused by normal, control d < 1.006 lipoproteins (VLDL). The ability of the β-VLDL to stimulate macrophage cholesteryl ester accumulation was greatly reduced as a consequence of treatment with hypolipidemic agents, which specifically reduced the concentration of β-VLDL. Two important differences were noted in a comparison of the β-VLDL from these atypical dysbetalipoproteinemic subjects with that of classic E2/2 dysbetalipoproteinemics: (a) the β-VLDL from the atypical subjects were severalfold more active in stimulating cholesteryl ester accumulation in macrophages, and (b) both the intestinal and hepatic β-VLDL from the atypical subjects were active. The triglyceriderich, α2-migrating VLDL from the affected family members constituted <10% of the d < 1.006 fraction and were similar to normal VLDL in that they did not stimulate cholesteryl ester synthesis in the macrophages.
Thomas P. Bersot, Thomas L. Innerarity, Robert W. Mahley, Richard J. Havel
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