Acid cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH) activity was assayed in mononuclear cells of patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis (transient ischemic attacks, TIA) and in age-matched controls showing no evidence of atherosclerosis. The acid CEH level of TIA patients was significantly lower than that of controls (1074 +/- 128 vs 2113 +/- 255 pmol/mg P/hr, mean +/- SE). Neither mononuclear cell nor plasma cholesterol and cholesteryl ester concentrations differed significantly between atherosclerotic and control groups. TIA women had lower mononuclear cell concentrations of free cholesterol than men.
The influence of sex steroids on mononuclear cell cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH) activity in premenopausal women and women on combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives has been studied. In addition, plasma and mononuclear cell cholesterol and esters were measured along with plasma estrogen and progesterone levels. Mononuclear cell CEH activity in control women is highest on Day 20 of their menstrual cycle. The control women had significantly higher CEH activities than women on oral contraceptives. Plasma esters were higher in the oral contraceptive group. However, in mononuclear cells, free cholesterol but not cholesteryl esters were higher in women on oral contraceptives.
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