Apolipoprotein E and atherosclerosis

Apolipoprotein E plays a key protective role in atherosclerosis. Its capaci ty to safeguard against this disease can be attributed to at least three di stinct functions. First, plasma apolipoprotein E maintains overall plasma c holesterol homeostasis by facilitating efficient hepatic uptake of lipoprot ein remnants. Second, lesion apolipoprotein E in concert with apolipoprotei n A-I facilitates cellular cholesterol efflux from macrophage foam cells wi thin the intima of the lesion. Third, lesion apolipoprotein E directly modi fies both macrophage- and T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses that contr ibute to this chronic inflammatory disease. Curr Opin Lipidol 11:243-251. ( C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.