The interaction of prostaglandin E1 with serum lipoproteins. Possible role in cholesterol homeostasis.

Prostaglandin (PG) E1 significantly stimulates the rate of cholesterol esterification in plasma. This effect could be attributed to an enhancement by PGE1 of the interlipoprotein transfer of phosphatidylcholine and cholesteryl esters, i.e., the substrate and product of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). The enhancement effect appears to be due to a rearrangement of the lipoprotein surface induced by specific interaction of PGE1 with some apolipoproteins, although the binding capacity of serum lipoproteins for PGE1 was found to be rather weak. To explain these findings, an hypothetical non-equilibrium model was put forward. The purpose of the present article is to summarize available data on the PGE1-lipoprotein interaction.