On the metabolic function of heparin-releasable liver lipase

Intravenous administration of specific antibody against heparin-releasable liver lipase (liver lipase) induced a 75% inhibition of the enzyme activity $\text{in situ}$. Administration of the antibody resulted in an increase of high density lipoprotein (density range 1.050–1.13 g/ml; HDL₂) phospholipid levels (20% after 1 h; 54% after 4 h). Short-term (1 h) treatment with antibody had no significant effect on any of the other lipoprotein components. After long-term (4 h) treatment the free cholesterol level of HDL₂ and all components in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) + intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) fraction were elevated (1.5–2.0 fold). In the low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction only the phospholipid level was affected (increased by 72%). All lipid components in the HDL₃ fraction were decreased by the antibody treatment, but this decrease was only statistically significant for the cholesterolesters. The rate of removal of iodine-labeled high density lipoprotein (HDL) and LDL from serum was not affected by the antibody treatment.These results suggest that liver lipase may promote phospholipid removal $\text{in vivo}$ and show that a lowering of liver lipase $\text{in situ}$ has profound consequences for serum lipoprotein metabolism.