Synthesis and transport of lipoprotein particles by intestinal absorptive cells in man.

The site of synthesis and some new details of lipoprotein particle transport have been demonstrated within the jejunal mucosa of man. In normal fasting volunteers, lipoprotein particles (88%, 150-650 A diameter) were visualized within the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi cisternae of absorptive cells covering the tips of jejunal villi. Electron microscopic observations suggested that these particles exited through the sides and bases of absorptive cells by reverse pinocytosis and then passed through the extracellular matrix of the lamina propria to enter lacteal lumina. When these lipid particles were isolated from fasting intestinal biopsies by preparative ultracentrifugation, their size distribution was similar to that of very low density (S(f) 20-400) lipoprotein (VLDL) particles in plasma. After a fatty meal, jejunal absorptive cells and extracts of their homogenates contained lipid particles of VLDL-size as well as chylomicrons of various sizes. The percentage of triglyceride in isolated intestinal lipid particles increased during fat absorption. Our interpretation of these data is that chylomicrons are probably derived from intestinal lipoprotein particles by addition of triglyceride.