A comparative study of human tissue and post-heparin plasma triglyceride lipases.

Human post-heparin plasma contains at least two different triglyceride lipases (TGL). The plasma lipolytic activity has been attributed to extra-hepatic and hepatic origin. Both post-heparin triglyceride lipases were partially purified and characterized. With heparin-Sepharose 4 B affinity chromatography it was possible to partially purify human adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) as well as a lipase from human liver. The effects of NaCl, pre-heparin plasma, pH and temperature on these two tissue lipases and plasma lipases were studied in parallel. Antibodies were produced against plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase (plasma H-TGL) that did not cross react with LPL. TGL activity of human liver was completely inhibited by antibodies against plasma H-TGL. From these results it appears that human post-heparin plasma contains two triglyceride lipase activities which originate from liver and extra-hepatic tissues such as adipose tissue.