NONENZYMATIC GLYCOSYLATION OF APOLIPOPROT EIN-A-I AND ITS FUNCTIONAL CONSEQUENCES

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are believed to protect against athero sclerosis by promoting the process of reverse cholesterol transport. T his process involves different steps including efflux of cellular chol esterol, cholesterol esterification and lipid transport and exchange. Apolipoprotein-(apo) A-I, the major HDL apolipoprotein, and the HDL-as sociated enzyme lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), which use s apo A-I as a cofactor play a crucial role in reverse cholesterol tra nsport. HDL may he classified into species according to their apolipop rotein content. Recent data concerning HDL particles indicate that lip oproteins containing apo A-I but not ape A-II (LpA-I) are more effecti ve carriers of free cholesterol and are associated with a protective e ffect agains coronary heart disease. In vitro studies have shown that glycosylated HDL are functionally abnormal and may be considered ather ogenic. Our study considers the different impacts of non-enzymatic gly cosylation of ape A-I or protein-HDL on the reverse cholesterol transp ort process.