title: Effect of lipid-modifying therapies on the functional quality of high-density lipoproteins: implications for drug development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing interest has focused on the development of therapeutic strategies to promote the biological activity of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to achieve more effective prevention of cardiovascular disease. The highly publicized failure of raising HDL cholesterol with the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, torcetrapib, has fueled immense discussion with regard to the potential impact of lipid modifying therapies on the functional quality of HDL particles.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature that has investigated the role of HDL functionality in protection against cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It remains to be unequivocally demonstrated that therapies that directly target HDL are cardioprotective in humans. Increasing attention on the functional quality of HDL will be essentinal for developing new biomarkers and medical therapies.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention, Department of Cell Biology, Mail Code JJ-65, 9500 Euclid Avenue, 44195, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Myngan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Nicholls