Lipoproteins and lipoprotein lipase in health and disease

Abstract

Epidemiological data have established a consistent negative correlation between cholesterol concentrations in plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and incidence of coronary heart disease. It has been postulated that the protective effect may relate to a role of HDL in the removal of cholesterol from peripheral tissues. The lipoprotein classes correlate with one another, pre-beta being generally synonymous with VLDL, beta with HDL and alpha with HDL. Lipoprotein lipase is most active in the capillaries of adipose tissue, cardiac and red skeletal muscle, and the lactating mammary gland. The enzyme is synthesized within the cells of a variety of tissues and is active extracellularly at the surface of capillary endothelia. The present review is aimed to explain the current state of information concerning lipoproteins, their transport and functions and the pathophysiological significance of lipoprotein lipase (LPL).