Cholesterol efflux capacity, high-density lipoprotein function, and atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) may provide cardiovascular protection by promoting reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages. We hypothesized that the capacity of HDL to accept cholesterol from macrophages would serve as a predictor of atherosclerotic burden.

Methods

We measured cholesterol efflux capacity in 203 healthy volunteers who underwent assessment of carotid artery intima-media thickness, 442 patients with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease, and 351 patients without such angiographically confirmed disease. We quantified efflux capacity by using a validated ex vivo system that involved incubation of macrophages with apolipoprotein B-depleted serum from the study participants.

Results

The levels of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprote

SUBMITTER: Khera AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3030449 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature