Characterizing lipoprotein profiles in coronary atherosclerosis development through quantitative lipidomics and proteomics approaches

Lipoproteins, which are synthesized in hepatic cells and secreted into the blood, play an important role in lipid transport. The quality of lipoproteins, including small dense low-density lipoproteins and the cholesterol efflux capacity of high-density lipoproteins, influences cardiovascular outcomes, although the relationship between lipid changes and lipoprotein quality remains unclear. This study characterized lipid molecules and apolipoproteins in lipoprotein particles during the development of coronary atherosclerosis in myocardial infarction-prone rabbits. Using quantitative lipidomics and proteomics techniques, the lipid composition in lipoprotein particles was evaluated by normalizing lipidomics data with lipoprotein particle numbers estimated by apolipoprotein B-100 concentration. While apolipoproteins and common risk factors for abnormal lipid metabolism, including cholesterol and triacylglycerol, did not change across stages of coronary atherosclerosis, ceramide molecules in lipoprotein particles were significantly associated with early stage progression. This study provides a perspective on the role of lipid composition in the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.