TY - JOUR
T1 - Apolipoprotein AI as therapy for atherosclerosis
T2 - does the future of preventive cardiology include weekly injections of the HDL protein?
AU - Fazio, Sergio
AU - Linton, MacRae F.
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - Conventional wisdom suggests that halting or reversing long-term atherosclerosis requires increasing the amount of circulating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) coursing through the vasculature. However, recent evidence seems to indicate that reducing the size of cholesterol-containing lipid plaques might be accomplished by methods that either do not raise or, in fact, lower the amount of circulating HDL. Carriers of apoAI(Milano), a variant of apoprotein AI (a component of HDL), have reduced levels of circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Intriguingly, these individuals have reduced amounts of circulating HDL and total apoAI. Infusions of the ApoAI(Milano) variant given to patients with coronary atherosclerosis appear to lead to disease regression and reduced plaque size. However, larger studies are required to provide definitive proof of apoAI(Milano)'s benefits. What is certain is that attention should be focused on the removal of cholesterol from plaques rather than simply desiring to raise HDL concentrations in patients.
AB - Conventional wisdom suggests that halting or reversing long-term atherosclerosis requires increasing the amount of circulating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) coursing through the vasculature. However, recent evidence seems to indicate that reducing the size of cholesterol-containing lipid plaques might be accomplished by methods that either do not raise or, in fact, lower the amount of circulating HDL. Carriers of apoAI(Milano), a variant of apoprotein AI (a component of HDL), have reduced levels of circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Intriguingly, these individuals have reduced amounts of circulating HDL and total apoAI. Infusions of the ApoAI(Milano) variant given to patients with coronary atherosclerosis appear to lead to disease regression and reduced plaque size. However, larger studies are required to provide definitive proof of apoAI(Milano)'s benefits. What is certain is that attention should be focused on the removal of cholesterol from plaques rather than simply desiring to raise HDL concentrations in patients.
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U2 - 10.1124/mi.3.8.436
DO - 10.1124/mi.3.8.436
M3 - Article
C2 - 14993451
AN - SCOPUS:2142806793
SN - 1534-0384
VL - 3
SP - 436
EP - 440
JO - Molecular interventions
JF - Molecular interventions
IS - 8
ER -