Isolation and quantification of apolipoproteins C-I, C-II, and C-III0-2 in very-low-density lipoproteins by "high-performance" anion-exchange chromatography.

Using "high-performance" anion-exchange chromatography, we isolated and quantified human C apolipoproteins (apo C) from very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) in serum. As revealed by isoelectric focusing and double immunodiffusion against monospecific antisera, apo C-I, apo C-II, apo C-III0, apo C-III1, and apo C-III2 were purified to homogeneity. Assay reproducibility (coefficients of variation) ranged between 0.9% and 4.7%. The relative percentages of apo C subspecies in VLDL from normal and hypertriglyceridemic serum samples agreed with data obtained by alternative methods. This precise technique is suitable for detecting and analyzing abnormalities of C apolipoproteins in VLDL.