ABNORMALITIES OF APOLIPOPROTEIN-E IN THE ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

Given the important role of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in triglyceride me tabolism, we analyzed plasma levels and degree of sialylation of apoE in subjects with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a diso rder accompanied by hypertriglyceridemia. Levels of apoE were signific antly increased (1.84-fold) and correlated with plasma triglycerides ( r = .663, P < .001) in AIDS. Subjects with AIDS and the apoE3/E2 pheno type showed the most prominent increases in both plasma triglyceride a nd apoE levels (3.4 and 2.2-fold over controls). Additionally, apoE fr om subjects with AIDS showed an increased amount of sialylation, compa red with controls (34% increase in apoE3/E3 subjects). Increased sialy lation correlated with the increase in apoE levels. In contrast, there was no increase in sialylation of apo C-III in AIDS, Thus, triglyceri de levels in AIDS are influenced by apoE subtype and subjects with AID S show changes in apoE structure.