An immunochemical method for the selective measurement of two triglyceride lipases in human postheparin plasma.

A new method for the selective measurement of postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase is described and validated. The activity of lipoprotein lipase is determined at 0.1 M NaCl after removal of hepatic lipase by specific antiserum, and the hepatic lipase is assayed in a medium containing 1.0 M NaCl but no additional serum. The optimal conditions for the determination of the two postheparin plasma triglyceride hydrolases were shown to be similar to those described for the purified enzymes. The new assay methods are simple, accurate and highly specific for the two lipase activities. VLDL and LDL do not interfere with the measurement, making the methods suitable for studies of patients with various hyperlipidemias. More than 90% of the total triglyceride hydrolase activity in postheparin plasma is precipitated with antisera raised against purified human postheparin plasma hepatic lipase and bovine milk lipoprotein lipase. The time and dose dependence of the two postheparin plasma lipase responses differ. For optimal activity of both enzymes, plasma taken 15 minutes after intravenous administration of 100 I.U./kg of heparin, should be used. The activity of postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase in 12 young, healthy males is reported.