Abstract

The association between the concentration of different plasma lipoproteins and plasma factor VII (F VII) was analysed by isolating plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) lipoproteins and assessing their in vitro interaction with F VII by immunoenzyme assay using peroxidase labelled anti-factor VII immunoglobulins to determine whether F VII coagulant activity is prognostic for cardiovascular mortality. F VII bound to triglyceride rich lipoproteins, the fixation being stronger on chylomicrons and VLDL fractions than on LDL fractions. In our experiments HDL did not bind to F VII. The fixation of coagulation factor X (FX) tested by the same method is comparable with that of F VII. The nature of this fixation seemed to arise from hydrophobic interaction as calcium was not necessary and the use of Tween 20 inhibited the interaction. The binding of factors VII and X was increased when lipids were previously treated by phospholipase C and the interaction seemed to be completely dependent on the lipid part of the lipoproteins. Hyrophobic fixation is a possible mechanism of interaction of plasma lipoproteins and F VII and X, and it may be of importance in the covariance of triglyceride concentrations and the activity of vitamin K dependent coagulation factors.