Simvastatin but not bezafibrate decreases plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ mass in type 2 diabetes mellitus: relevance of high sensitive C-reactive protein, lipoprotein profile and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) electronegativity.

Objective: Plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) levels predict incident cardiovascular disease, impacting Lp-PLA(2) as an emerging therapeutic target. We determined Lp-PLA(2) responses to statin and fibrate administration in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and assessed relationships of changes in Lp-PLA(2) with subclinical inflammation and lipoprotein characteristics.

Methods: A placebo-controlled cross-over study (three 8-week treatment periods with simvastatin (40 mg daily), bezafibrate (400mg daily) and their combination) was carried out in 14 male type 2 diabetic patients.

Carotid intima media thickness is associated with plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 mass in nondiabetic subjects but not in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: A recent meta-analysis showed that both plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2) ) mass and activity independently predict cardiovascular events. Notably, Lp-PLA(2) activity but not mass was found to be a determinant of cardiovascular outcome in type 2 diabetes mellitus. We questioned whether relationships of carotid intima media thickness (IMT), a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, with Lp-PLA(2) mass differ between diabetic and nondiabetic subjects.

Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer, but not cholesterol esterification, is related to lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2: possible contribution to an atherogenic lipoprotein profile.

Context: Plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) predicts incident cardiovascular disease and is associated preferentially with negatively charged apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. The plasma cholesteryl ester transfer (CET) process, which contributes to low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and small, dense low-density lipoproteins, is affected by the composition and concentration of apolipoprotein B-containing cholesteryl ester acceptor lipoproteins.

Objective: We tested relationships of CET with Lp-PLA(2) in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS).