Metabolism of apolipoproteins A-I and A-ll and its influence on the high density lipoprotein subfraction distribution in males and females

Abstract

Rate zonal ultracentrifugation of plasma samples from 10 healthy age-matched volunteers (5 males, 5 females) indicated that the high density lipoprotein subfraction ratio (HDL2:HDL3) in females was significantly higher than in males. The cause of this phenomenon was investigated by simultaneous examination of the metabolism of the major HDL apoproteins (apoA-I and apoA-II) in both groups. The results show that there is no significant sex-related difference in the plasma pool size, fractional catabolic rate, or synthetic rate of either apoprotein. The increased HDL2:HDL3 ratio in females vs. males apparently does not derive from measurable differences in the metabolic handling of either apoprotein.