Reply: A Potential Link between Serum Low-Density Lipoproteins and Asthma
Year: 2015
Type: letter
Abstract: reported in 2013 in another study on the association between asthma and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subclasses (3): We found a positive correlation between FEV 1 % predicted and larger LDL particles (LDL-1), as well as negative correlation between FEV 1 % predicted and smaller, more dense LDL particles (LDL-3).In that study, we hypothesized that LDL could represent a potent trigger for the inflammatory changes of the airways.It was somewhat surprising that the Barochia and colleagues did not mention our study, as it still represents the only study that has assessed the full spectrum of all seven LDL subclasses in asthma.As highlighted by the European Panel on LDL Subclasses (4), the methodology used for assessing lipoprotein subclasses is crucial.In the present study, Barochia and colleagues used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess the lipoprotein particles; yet with this methodology, they were able to assess only a few subclasses with low resolution (e.g., three very-low-density lipoprotein subclasses [large, medium, and small very-low-density lipoprotein], two LDL subclasses [large and small LDL], and three HDL subclasses [large, medium, and small HDL]).Methodologies are available to assess lipoprotein subfractions with a higher degree of resolution, and in our study, we used a methodology of gel electrophoresis (Lipoprint; Quantimetrix Corporation, Redondo Beach, CA) that is able to distinguish seven LDL subclasses (3) as well as 10 HDL subclasses (5).Of interest, in our study (3), we reported that asthma was associated with smaller LDL particles, which are proinflammatory particles (6), and in the present study, Barochia and colleagues reported that asthma was associated with larger HDL particles, which seem to be dysfunctional HDLs with proinflammatory properties (7).We therefore believe that the findings of the two studies support the concept that small LDLs could lead to the amplification of the inflammatory cascade in asthma, and we advocate for larger studies specifically designed to confirm the association between asthma and dyslipidemia and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Authors: Amisha V. Barochia, Stewart J. Levine
Institution: National Institutes of Health
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1934193546