Advanced age alters HDL composition, resulting in a 3-fold increase in serum amyloid A, defective antioxidant properties, and lower paraoxonase 1 activity compared to young subjects.
Observational
Does advanced age alter the composition and function of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in healthy subjects?
Aging is associated with compositional changes and functional impairment of HDL, including reduced antioxidant capacity, which may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in the elderly.
Most coronary deaths occur in patients older than 65years. Age associated alterations in the composition and function of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) may contribute to cardiovascular mortality. The effect of advanced age on the composition and function of HDL is not well understood. HDL was isolated from healthy young and elderly subjects. HDL composition, cellular cholesterol efflux/uptake, anti-oxidant properties and paraoxonase activity were assessed. We observed a 3-fold increase of the acute phase protein serum amyloid A, an increased content of complement C3 and proteins involved in endopeptidase/protease inhibition in HDL of elderly subjects, whereas levels of apolipoprotein E were significantly decreased. HDL from elderly subjects contained less cholesterol but increased sphingomyelin. Most importantly, HDL from elderly subjects showed defective antioxidant properties, lower paraoxonase 1 activity and was more rapidly taken up by macrophages, whereas cholesterol efflux capability was not altered. These findings suggest that aging alters HDL composition, resulting in functional impairment that may contribute to the onset/progression of cardiovascular disease.
Holzer et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Healthy subjects. Advanced age (elderly) vs. Young subjects was evaluated on HDL composition, cellular cholesterol efflux/uptake, anti-oxidant properties and paraoxonase activity. Advanced age alters HDL composition, resulting in a 3-fold increase in serum amyloid A, defective antioxidant properties, and lower paraoxonase 1 activity compared to young subjects.