INHIBITION OF ENDOTHELIAL-CELL ADHESION MOLECULE EXPRESSION BY HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEINS

1. A low level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is highly predictive of premature coronary heart disease (CHD). It is unclear f rom human studies whether this relationship reflects an ability of HDL to protect against coronary disease or whether a low HDL in coronary patients is simply an epiphenomenon. 2. Recent studies of transgenic m ice provide strong evidence that HDL are directly anti-atherogenic, al though the mechanism of the protection is unknown. It is uncertain whe ther it relates to the involvement of HDL in plasma cholesterol transp ort or to a range of non-lipid transport functions of HDL. 3. We have recently reported HDL have the ability to inhibit the cytokine-induced expression of adhesion molecules by endothelial cells, a process well recognized as an early event in the development of atherosclerosis.