Determining clearance rate of lipoprotein and apoprotein in e.g. serum - by injecting biotinylated low density lipoprotein(s), used to evaluate risk factors for sudden death associated with atherosclerosis

摘要

Process for measuring the clearance rate of low density lipoproteins in serum or plasma utilises biotinylated low density lipoproteins. The biotin is pref. linked covalently to the lipoprotein via a spacer, esp. a medium chain hydrocarbon. The biotinylated apoprotein is pref. integrated into a liposome. A process for measuring permanent plasma proteins, esp. lipoproteins and apoproteins of type apoAI, apoAII, apoAIV, apoE, is also claimed. USE/ADVANTAGE - Used to determine risk factors for sudden death associated with atherosclerosis. The lipoproteins which carry cholesterol are bound by surface cell receptors, and the clearance rate varies with the number of saturation degree of the receptors, so a low clearance rate is associated with a high risk. Previous methods of measuring clearance rates involved radioactive iodine and could only be carried out in specialised laboratories. The new method dispenses with the need for trichloroacetic acid pptn., which is necessary when radiolabelled proteins are used. The method can also be used to study proteins in apoprotein complexes, etc..