Role of changes in serum chitotriosidase activity in mice under conditions of hyperlipidemia and lipid-lowering effect of carboxymethylated (1-3)-β-D-glycan.

Abstract

Enhanced expression and activity of chitotriosidase in humans is regarded as a marker of atherosclerosis. However, it remains unclear, whether this increase is related to lipemia or enhanced secretion of the enzyme by activated macrophages in the atherosclerotic plaques. It was shown that acute lipemia in mice caused by single administration of poloxamer 407 (P-407) in a dose of 300 mg/kg is accompanied by an increase in serum chitotriosidase activity (24 h) that correlated with elevated content of total cholesterol and triglycerides. Preliminary administration of (1-3)-β-D-glycan prevented the P-407-induced increase in chitotriosidase activity, probably due to the hypolipidemic action of (1-3)-β-D-glycan. The relationship between changes in chitotriosidase activity with atherogenic fractions and subfractions of serum lipoproteins during lipemia is discussed.