High density lipoprotein and metabolic disease: Potential benefits of restoring its functional properties.
BACKGROUND
High density lipoproteins (HDLs) are thought to be atheroprotective and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Besides their antioxidant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic properties in the vasculature, HDLs also improve glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle.


OBJECTIVE
Herein, we review the functional role of HDLs to improve metabolic disorders, especially those involving insulin resistance and to induce regression of CVD with a particular focus on current pharmacological treatment options as well as lifestyle interventions, particularly exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Functional properties of HDLs continue to be considered important mediators to reverse metabolic dysfunction and to regress atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle changes are often recommended to reduce the risk of CVD, with exercise being one of the most important of these. Understanding how exercise improves HDL function will likely lead to new approaches to battle the expanding burden of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
Institute for Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Teja
T
Klancic
University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Lavinia
L
Woodward
Institute for Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany; Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Ludwig Maximilian University München, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany. Electronic address: susanna.hofmann@helmholtz-muenchen.de.
Susanna M
SM
Hofmann
Department of Medicine and Division of Cardiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Edward A
EA
Fisher
Atherosclerotic plaque regression; Glucose homeostasis; HDL function; High density lipoprotein (HDL); Metabolic disease; Physical activity