High myocardial and low hepatic lipoprotein lipase activities responsible for the initiation of atherosclerosis

Abstract

A literature survey is presented that strongly suggests that a high myocardial lipoprotein lipase together with a low hepatic lipase activity can predispose for atherosclerosis. Experiments are presented indicating that low blood insulin levels cause lowering of the hepatic lipase activity, while from the literature it is known that when the ratio of circulating glucagon and insulin levels is increased, the lipoprotein lipase activity of heart is elevated. Therefore, it is likely that a combination of high circulating triglyceride levels with a high glucagon/insulin ratio is atherogenic.