Abstract 226: Serum Amyloid A Isoforms and the Capacity to Mediate Cholesterol Efflux

Abstract

Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is an acute phase reactant protein that exists in multiple isoforms, can form HDL, and participates in cholesterol efflux. In vitro studies suggest that the SAA 2.1 isoform has an increased capacity to mediate cholesterol efflux compared to the other isoforms. We examined SAA isoforms using a novel mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA) and HDL’s cholesterol efflux capacity (via ABCA-1 and SR-BI) in samples from 59 subjects with (n=33) and without type 2 diabetes (n=26). SAA 1.1 levels were detectable in 58, SAA 2.1 in 14 and SAA 2.2 in 36 of the 59 subjects. SAA 2.1 levels significantly correlated with SR-BI cholesterol efflux (r=0.71, p=0.01, n=14), but not ABCA-1 mediated efflux (r=0.1, P=0.1). This correlation was not explained by changes in HDL phospholipids, Apo A-I or HDL cholesterol levels. In contrast, SAA 2.2 or 1.1 levels did not correlate with changes in SR-BI or ABCA-1 mediated efflux. Although the SAA 2.1 isoform is less frequently detected in plasma, our data confirm that it is closely linked with HDL mediated cholesterol efflux, particularly that is SR-BI mediated.