Identification and characterization of mixed disulphide complexes of E apoprotein in high density lipoprotein of subjects with acute alcoholic hepatitis.

Two E apoprotein complexes have been isolated from the plasma high density lipoprotein fraction of patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Both were mixed disulphide complexes and could be dissociated into subunits with β-mercaptoethanol but not with 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate or 8 M urea. One of the complexes (molecular weight 46,000) was identified as an E-AII unit and the other, of molecular weight 106,000 was consistent in properties with an E trimer. The latter has not been described before and the E-AII complex has been reported once previously in plasma of patients with Type III hyperlipo-proteinaemia. It is proposed that the presence of E complexes in abnormal disease states may affect the normal recognition of E monomer by cells thereby altering the subsequent fate of their host lipoproteins and their lipid constituents.