Interaction of native and modified low-density lipoproteins with extracellular matrix

Lipoprotein-matrix interactions play an important role in arterial disease. Extracellular matrix proteoglycans bind and retain specific positively cha rged domains on apolipoproteins B- and E-containing lipoproteins during ath erogenesis. Retained lipoproteins can undergo several modifications, which may alter their interaction with extracellular matrix molecules. Growth fac tors, cytokines and oxidized low density lipoproteins influence proteoglyca n structure, rendering them more likely to bind and retain lipoproteins dur ing atherogenesis. Lipoproteins, native and modified, also can modulate the expression of several of the matrix degrading enzymes present in vascular tissue, thereby influencing plague stability. Thus, the interaction of athe rogenic lipoproteins with arterial wail matrix molecules can influence the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis and its complications. Curr Opin Lipidol 11:457-463. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.