HDL – How It Stops Working
Anatol Kontush · 2024
The concentration of HDL-cholesterol is controlled by genes, which can be passed down from parents. Heterozygous carriers of the mutant gene have lower HDL-cholesterol levels, but they are not as low as in people with homozygous Tangier disease. Low HDL-cholesterol puts people at a higher risk of heart problems, such as heart attacks and strokes. However, lowering LDL-cholesterol levels can reduce this risk for people with Tangier disease. Genetic variations influence CETP, one of the most well-known lipid transfer proteins. Various factors such as diabetes, infections, and inflammation can cause changes in HDL particles, affecting their structure, composition, and function. These modifications may be important for cardiovascular diseases because of their relationship with dyslipidemia and inflammation. The deficiency of apolipoprotein A-I can cause an accumulation of harmful lipid peroxidation products in HDL particles. The apolipoprotein can also be modified by the proteolytic degradation induced by arterial cells.