Preparation of soluble apolipoproteins A-I, B, and C-II by a chromatofocusing column method, and evaluation of their concentrations in serum in pulmonary disease.

A chromatofocusing column method for isolating ApoB is described. LDL is first isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation and delipidated with n-butanol/diisopropyl ether. Chromatofocusing of ApoLDL yielded a large ApoB peak at pI 5.0-5.3. ApoA-I and ApoC-II were prepared analogously, with HDL and VLDL as the source of apoprotein. Antisera were raised in rabbits, and electroimmunoassay techniques were used for determination. ApoB was water-soluble after chromatofocusing. Intra-assay precision (CV) was 4.7% for ApoA-I, 7.8% for ApoB in the "rocket" electrophoresis. Interassay precision (CV) was 6% for ApoA-I and 8% for ApoB. Apolipoprotein concentrations were measured in subjects who had undergone lung resection and patients with obstructive pulmonary disease. After lung resection, the concentration of ApoA-I in serum was significantly decreased (p less than 0.001) and that of ApoB significantly increased (p less than 0.001) as compared with controls. The ApoA-I/ApoB ratio was significantly lower in the lung-resection group. ApoA-I and ApoB concentrations were unchanged in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ApoC-II concentrations in each group were similar to those for control subjects. Of the lipids, values for total cholesterol were above normal after lung resection (p less than 0.002), as were those for triglycerides (p less than 0.02).