Postprandial variations in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity, phospholipid transfer protein activity and plasma cholesterol efflux capacity in normolipidemic men

Background and Aim: Plasma cholesterol efflux capacity is stimulated during postprandial (PP) hypertriglyceridemia. Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) are the key proteins in lipoprotein metabolism and remodelling, but their role during the PP cholesterol efflux process remains indeterminate. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a fatty meal intake on plasma CETP and PUP activities, and the capacity of plasma to promote cholesterol efflux, as well as to evaluate the relationship between these three key mechanisms of the reverse cholesterol transport process. Methods and Results: CETP and PLTP activities and the cholesterol efflux capacity of plasma were measured over eight hours following a fatty meal (1000 kcal, 62 % fat) in 13 normolipidemic men. CETP activity and the cholesterol efflux capacity of plasma from Fu5AH cells increased after the meal, reaching a maximum after eight hours (respectively 32 %, p=0.06, and 6.5 %, p=0.045), whereas PUP activity remained unchanged. CETP and PUP activities did not correlate with plasma cholesterol efflux capacity in the fasting or PP state. Plasma CETP activity in the fasting state positively correlated with the plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, but no correlation was found with any lipid or apolipoprotein postprandially. The cholesterol efflux capacity of plasma correlated positively with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) components, the best correlation being with the HDL Phospholipid fraction in both the fasting and PP states. Conclusions: These findings suggest that plasma CETP and PLTP activities in healthy normolipidemic subjects are differently regulated in the PP state, and are not correlated with the increased cholesterol efflux capacity of PP plasma. HDL-phospholipid remains the key factor in the regulation of the capacity of plasma to promote Fu5AH cell cholesterol efflux.