title: Serum amyloid A in atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a family of acute-phase proteins which are shown to correlate with cardiovascular disease, but whether this SAA contributes causally to atherosclerosis development or reflects underlying disease or risk factors remains unclear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SAA has been detected within atherosclerotic lesions and within adipose tissue where it is hypothesized that it may play a contributory role in disease development. In the acute-phase response SAA is synthesized by the liver and transported primarily in association with HDL. However, there is a growing literature suggesting that localized synthesis of SAA within the vasculature, or adipose tissue, may play a distinct role in disease development. Furthermore, SAA can be found in association with apoB-containing lipoproteins, in which its biological activity may be different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review will discuss recent experimental evidence supporting a causal role of SAA with atherosclerosis.
authors: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Lisa.Tannock@uky.edu
authors: Victoria L
authors: VL
authors: King
authors: Joel
authors: J
authors: Thompson
authors: Lisa R
authors: LR
authors: Tannock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein