title: Lipoprotein(a) and its role in inflammation, atherosclerosis and malignancies.
abstract: Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) is a modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle with an additional specific apolipoprotein (a), covalently attached to apolipoprotein B‑100 of LDL by a single thioester bond. Increased plasma Lp(a) level is a genetically determined, independent, causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease.The precise quantification of Lp(a) in plasma is still hampered by mass-sensitive assays, large particle variation, poor standardization and lack of assay comparability.The physiological functions of Lp(a) include wound healing, promoting tissue repair and vascular remodeling. Similarly to other lipoproteins, Lp(a) is also susceptible for oxidative modifications, leading to extensive formation of pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic oxidized phospholipids, oxysterols, oxidized lipid-protein adducts in Lp(a) particles, that perpetuate atherosclerotic lesion progression and intima-media thickening through induction of M1-macrophages, inflammation, autoimmunity and apoptosis. The oxidation-specific epitopes of modified lipoproteins are major targets of pre-immune, natural IgM antibodies, that may attenuate the pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic effects of Lp(a).Although the data are still insufficient, recent studies suggest a potential anti-neoplastic role of Lp(a).
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orsó
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. gerd.schmitz@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017270:Lipoprotein(a)
keywords: Atherogenesis; Inflammation; Lipoprotein(a); Pathophysiology; Tumor-growth