High-density lipoprotein (HDL) subpopulations functional assessment is more relevant for HDL anti-atherogenic activity than
cholesterol level. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of
HDL-2 and
HDL-3 on
lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-mediated
very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) catabolism related to
hypertriglyceridemia development. VLDL and HDLs were isolated from serum by ultracentrifugation. VLDL was incubated with LPL in the absence and presence of total HDL or HDL subpopulations. Next, VLDL remnants were separated, and their composition and electrophoretic mobility was assessed. Both HDL subpopulations increased the efficiency of
triglyceride lipolysis and
apolipoprotein CII and CIII removal from VLDL up to ~90%.
HDL-3 exerted significantly greater impact than
HDL-2 on
apolipoprotein E (43% vs. 18%, p < 0.001), free
cholesterol (26% vs. 18%, p < 0.05) and
phospholipids (53% vs. 43%, p < 0.05) removal from VLDL and VLDL remnant electrophoretic mobility (0.18 vs. 0.20, p < 0.01). A greater release of these components was also observed in the presence of total HDL with a low
HDL-2/
HDL-3 cholesterol ratio. Both HDL subpopulations affect VLDL composition during lipolysis, but
HDL-3 exhibited a greater effect on this process. Altered composition of HDL related to significant changes in the distribution between
HDL-2 and
HDL-3 can influence the VLDL remnant features, affecting
atherosclerosis progression.