Exploiting the vascular protective effects of high-density lipoprotein andits apolipoproteins - An idea whose time for testing is coming, Part II

Despite the benefits of currently available preventative and therapeutic in terventions, atherosclerotic vascular disease continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in much of the Western World. This emphasize,,, the need for additional preventive and therapeutic interventions exploitin g new targets to compliment and augment the results of LDL lowering and oth er current strategies. One such potential target is HDL arid its apolipopro teins, A large body of experimental evidence suggests that augmenting the l evels and/or function of HDL and its apolipoproteins can have major vascula r protective effects ranging from prevention to stabilization and regressio n, independent of total or non-HDL cholesterol levels. Therefore, we think that the time is ripe for the development and clinical testing of this new frontier in antiatherogenic strategy. In the present article, We will revie w the structure/function of HDL and explore means of enhancing the levels a nd/or function of HDL and its apolipoproteins for vascular protection.