title: [Advances in apolipoprotein A- I and it's anti-atherosclerosis properties].
abstract: Human apolipoprotein A- I, the major protein component of high density lipoproteins and the main activator of the enzyme lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase, defines the structure and stability and functions of HDL. It is clearly demonstrated that high concentration of the apoA- I not only inhibits the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, but also makes the preexisting atherosclerotic lesions regress. This review gives an overview of the apoA- I structure, production, relation between apoA- I and HDL, and several mechanisms of the apoA-I anti-atherosclerosis. These mechanisms include directing excess celluar cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to the liver in reverse cholesterol transport, inhibiting oxidative modification of LDL, and modulating inflammatory responses to favour vasoprotection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China. liming096@sina.com
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D002784:Cholesterol