Plasma lipid transfer proteins.
OBJECTIVE
Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein and phospholipid transfer protein are involved in lipoprotein metabolism. Conceivably, manipulation of either transfer protein could impact atherosclerosis and other lipid-driven diseases.


RESULTS
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein mediates direct HDL cholesteryl ester delivery to the liver cells; adipose tissue-specific overexpression of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in mice reduces the plasma HDL cholesterol concentration and adipocyte size; cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqIB polymorphism is associated with HDL cholesterol plasma levels and the risk of coronary heart disease. In apolipoprotein B transgenic mice, phospholipid transfer protein deficiency enhances reactive oxygen species-dependent degradation of newly synthesized apolipoprotein B via a post-endoplasmic reticulum process, as well as improving the antiinflammatory properties of HDL in mice. Activity of this transfer protein in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease is profoundly decreased and exogenous phospholipid transfer protein induces apolipoprotein E secretion by primary human astrocytes in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the relationship between lipid transfer proteins and lipoprotein metabolism is expected to be an important frontier in the search for a therapy for atherosclerosis.
Jiang
Xian-Cheng
XC
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA. xjiang@downstate.edu
Zhou
Hong-Wen
HW