Incubation of lipid emulsions with plasma lipoproteins modifies the fluidity of each particle.

Lipid emulsions (LE) contain triglyceride (TG)-rich particles (TGRP) and phospholipid-rich particles (PLRP). Various lipid and protein exchanges take place during in vitro incubations of LE with lipoproteins. These composition changes affect physical properties of particles. The aim of this study was to determine the role of different LE particles and the effect of TG composition on physical modifications. Low density lipoproteins (LDL: 1.025 < d < 1.040 g/mL) or high density lipoproteins (HDL: 1.085 < d< 1.150 g/mL) were incubated with the following four LE or their TGRP or PLRP, which were manufactured with the same phospholipid emulsifier: long-chain triglycerides (LCT): 100% soybean oil; medium-chain triglycerides (MCT)/LCT (MCT/LCT, 5:5, w/w); FO (100% fish oil); and MLF541 (MCT/LCT/FO, 5:4:1, by wt). After incubation, modified LE particles and lipoproteins were analyzed by fluorescence polarization. Observed physical modifications were significant in emulsion particles (ordering effect) but not in lipoproteins and also were significant for TG composition effect. Since intact emulsion contained a large excess of TGRP over PLRP, it is not surprising that intact emulsion had the same behavior as TGRP alone, and that PLRP had the same physical characteristics as lipoproteins. TG loss and cholesterol and protein acquisitions by emulsion particles rigidify their envelope. The two emulsions containing FO were less ordered after incubation. In conclusion, incubation of LE with lipoproteins changes physical properties of each kind of particle, and TG composition of the emulsion affects emulsion particle changes but has no effect on LDL and HDL. These order modifications induce more effective exchanges between LE particles and lipoproteins and modify their metabolism; HDL changes may increase the reverse cholesterol transport.