Prostaglandin E1 influences serum cholesterol esterase and lipase activity in different ways.

The in vitro and in vivo effects of prostaglandin E1 on cholesterol ester hydrolase (CEase) and lipase [glycerol ester hydrolase (GEH)] activity in human serum were examined. Cholesterol esterase and lipase activity in the sera of men with atherosclerosis differed substantially from that in the control subjects. CEase activity was raised and GEH activity suppressed in the serum of men with atherosclerosis compared with controls. Prostaglandin E1 in vitro was found to suppress lipase but to increase cholesterol esterase activity to some extent. However, in vivo activities of GEH and CEase in the sera of men with chronic arterial occlusions of the lower limbs treated with prostaglandin E1 revealed that lipase activity was increased but that cholesterol esterase activity was unchanged. Recent studies have demonstrated that by altering the metabolic pathways of acylcholesterols and triacylglycerols, prostaglandin E1 may lead to the development of new strategies for retarding atherosclerosis.