Apolipoprotein C-II from human plasma

Apolipoprotein C-II (APOC2/apoC-II), a small exchangeable apolipoprotein, is expressed in the liver and secreted into plasma. It is present on the triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL), like chylomicrons (CM) and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), mainly during fasting. The intestine, macrophages, adipose tissue, brain, skin, lungs, retina, and retinal pigment epithelium are among the tissues that produce ApoC-II.

Apolipoprotein C-II activates lipoprotein lipase and has been used in a study to assess HDL proteome in hemodialysis patients. An excess of apolipoprotein C-II is associated with increased triglyceride-rich particles and alterations in HDL particle distribution.

Activates lipoprotein lipase

Apolipoprotein C2 (APOC2) serves as an activator of lipoprotein lipase. It is involved in the hydrolysis of triglycerides (TG) on TG-rich lipoproteins (TRL) to release free fatty acids (FA). Higher expression of APOC2 is observed in patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells, hypopharyngeal cancer, invasive ductal breast cancer, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, centroblastic lymphoma, early-stage colorectal tumor, and skin squamous cell carcinoma. ApoC-2 is considered as a new sensitive biomarker for diagnosing Takayasu arteritis (TAK).