A two-step homogeneous assay for apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol

Background Apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein shows antiatherogenic properties in vitro. There is a need for a homogeneous assay to determine the concentration of apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein for in vivo studies. Methods In the proposed homogeneous assay, lipoproteins other than apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein were eliminated in the first step. Apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was measured in the second step. The control study used a 13% polyethylene glycol precipitation assay (control assay). Results The homogeneous assay showed good performance in validation studies. In subjects with normal liver function ( n = 78), a significant correlation was found between the control assay and the homogeneous assay ( r = 0.824). Serum apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, determined by the control assay and the homogeneous assay, respectively, were 0.05 (0.04–0.10) (median [25th–75th percentile]) mmol/L and 0.10 (0.06–0.13) mmol/L for healthy individuals ( n = 12), and 0.03 (0.01–0.13) mmol/L and 0.02 (0.01–0.02) mmol/L for patients with cholestasis ( n = 6). The results indicate that the homogeneous assay recovers cholesterol contained in physiological apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein, but not in pathological apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein from cholestatic patients. Conclusions The proposed two-step homogeneous assay enables selective measurement of physiological apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in common autoanalysers. This assay might uncover a role for apolipoprotein E-containing high-density lipoprotein in physiological conditions.