Characteristics of Lipoprotein Peak x Eluted from a Column with the Eluent of High-magnesium Ion Concentration in Lipoprotein Analysis Using the Cation-exchange Chromatography

The new lipoprotein analysis method using a cation-exchange chromatography, which contains a sulfopropyl-ligand column and two magnesium ion-containing eluents was previously reported. This method can separate serum lipoproteins on the column gel with a magnesium ion concentration gradient and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and an unspecified lipoprotein peak are eluted in order from the column. We have now characterized the unspecified lipoproteins, designated peak x, which is last eluted from the column with the eluent of high-magnesium ion concentration. The peak x was small size chylomicron fraction with a part of VLDL. Furthermore, the cholesterol values in the peak x were significantly correlated with remnant-like particle (RLP)-cholesterol values. The peak x separated from a hyperlipidemic patient included apolipoprotein B-100, B-48, E, A-1 and Cs (C-I, C-II, C-III) and its composition of free cholesterol, cholesteryl esters, triglyceride (TG) and phospholipids in total lipids were 6, 15, 66 and 13%, respectively. These results suggest that a major part of the lipoprotein peak X may be composed of remnants of chylomicron and VLDL, but it remains to be elucidated.