Measurement of asialylated LDL in the blood of patients with coronary artery disease by antibody-lectin sandwich assay

Elevated concentrations of asialylated LDL (asialo-LDL) have been reported in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This may stimulate lipid ac cumulation in arterial intima cells and promote atherosclerosis. To investi gate asialo-LDL as a potential risk-factor for coronary atherogenesis, we d eveloped an antibody-lectin sandwich assay to measure levels in serum from CAD patients and age-matched control subjects. LDL was captured with an ant i.-apolipoprotein (apo) B antibody and asialylated oligosaccharides measure d using the biotinylated D-galactose (D-gal) binding lectin, Ricinus commun is agglutinin 120 (RCA(120)), and a streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conju gate. For the control and atherosclerotic subjects, median [interquartile r ange (IQR)] values for total concentrations of asialo-LDL were 240 mg/L (18 0 310 mg/L) and 220mg/L (186 390 mg/L), respectively (P=0.82). When express ed as a percentage of serum apo B-100, median (IQR) values were 18% (16-23% ) and 19% (15-29%), respectively (P=0.78). These results suggest asialo-LDL has little value as a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis.