K. Yamauchi et al., Characterization of apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins in cerebrospinal fluid: Effect of phenotype on the distribution of apolipoprotein E, CLIN CHEM, 45(9), 1999, pp. 1431-1438
Background: Apolipoprotein (apo) E, one of the main apolipoproteins in the
central nervous system, may play an important role in lipid metabolism; how
ever, the details of its function are poorly understood. In this study, we
characterized apoE-containing lipoproteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and
examined the effect of apoE phenotype on the distribution of apoE among th
e lipoprotein fractions.
Methods: CSF lipoproteins were fractionated by gel filtration and ultracent
rifugation, and then characterized by electrophoresis, immunoblot, electron
microscopy, and analysis of apoE, total cholesterol, and phospholipid conc
entrations.
Results: The ratio of sialylated to nonsialylated apoE was higher in CSF th
an in serum. However, the fundamental forms containing apoE homodimers or h
eterodimers [such as apo(E-AII) and apo(AII-E2AII) complexes] were similar
in CSF and serum. apoE-containing lipoproteins were fractionated at densiti
es of <1.006, 1.063-1.125, and 1.125-1.21 kg/L. Neither apoE nor apoAI was
detected in the fraction with a density range of 1.006-1.063 kg/L. The diam
eters of the lipoprotein particles with densities of <1.006, 1.063-1.125, a
nd 1.125-1.21 kg/L were 16.7 +/- 3.1, 14.0 +/- 3.5 and 11.6 +/- 2.8 nm (mea
n +/- SD, n = 200), respectively. All of these lipoproteins exhibited a sph
erical structure. The distribution profile of apoE-containing lipoproteins
was affected by the apoE phenotype. A relatively large amount of apoE-conta
ining lipoproteins was isolated from the fraction with a density >1.125 kg/
L obtained from CSF associated with apoE2 or apoE3. This tendency was more
obvious in CSF associated with apoE2 than in CSF without apoE2. apoE-contai
ning lipoproteins were predominantly observed in the fraction with a densit
y of <1.006 kg/L obtained from CSF associated with apoE4.
Conclusions: The lipoproteins in CSF have a unique composition that is diff
erent from that of the lipoproteins in plasma. However, the differences in
diameter between the CSF fractions were not as lai ge as for the serum frac
tions. Our data suggest that the apoE phenotype may affect the distribution
profile of apoE-containing lipoproteins in the CSF. This would mean that t
he metabolism of apoE-containing lipoproteins depends on the apoE isoform p
resent. (C) 1999 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.