High Density Lipoproteins: Metabolism, Biological Functions and Risk of cardiovascular pathology

Abstract

High levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in blood plasma have traditionally been considered an anti-atherogenic factor, but this opinion is not always supported by epidemiological and genetic studies. The functions of lipoproteins are of much greater importance, the main of which is the implementation of the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) from cells to the liver. The part 1 of the review presents the sequence of passage of cholesterol in HDL, shows the importance of each link in this chain for the development of atherosclerosis; the main methods for determining RCT are given. Changes in the structure and function of HDL, which play the important role in the pathogenesis of a number of chronic diseases that in one way or another stimulate the development of atherosclerosis, are considered in part 2 of the review.