Guido Franceschini

..The high efficiency of A-IM-containing HDL for cell cholesterol uptake would result in an improved reverse cholesterol transport in the A-IM carriers, possibly explaining the low susceptibility to atherosclerosis development...

..Similarly, the risk associated with a low HDL-C level is of particular significance in patients with established coronary artery disease or with type 2 diabetes, and it is a more pertinent factor to consider when managing dyslipidemia...

..The distinct and complementary effects of fenofibrate and simvastatin on lipid parameters and HDL-related biomarkers suggest that a combination therapy with the two drugs in dyslipidemic patients with low HDL would be fully justified...

..Whether the low HDL level of apoA-I(M) carriers is associated with impaired vascular function is presently unknown...

..The two common aminoacid substitutions have no effect on the ability of apoA-IV to maintain endothelial homeostasis...

..Theoretically, hypoalphalipoproteinemia cases with LCAT deficiency should be at increased cardiovascular risk because of high-density lipoprotein deficiency and defective reverse cholesterol transport...

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..The present findings support the concept that LCAT is not required for an efficient reverse cholesterol transport and that a low plasma LCAT concentration and activity is not associated with increased atherosclerosis...

..Mutations of APOB gene cause familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, a codominant disorder characterized by low plasma levels of LDL cholesterol and apoB...

..To evaluate the capacity of serum from carriers of LCAT gene mutations to promote cell cholesterol efflux through the ABCA1, ABCG1, and SR-BI pathways...

..To analyze the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene and the plasma HDL phenotype in a Caucasian subject with extremely elevated plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)...

..This paper reviews the genetic and biochemical features of LCAT deficiency, highlighting the absence of enhanced preclinical atherosclerosis in carriers, despite the remarkably low HDL cholesterol...

..These results indicate prevention of MMP-2 activation as a novel mechanism for HDL-mediated cardioprotection...

..38, P<0.001). By inhibiting IL-6 production and lowering plasma IL-6 concentration, HDL may limit the pro-atherogenic effects of both acute and chronic inflammatory states, of which IL-6 is a key orchestrator...

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..The plasma concentration of the HDL-bound antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase increased by 10% after Omacor. Omacor may be helpful in correcting multiple lipoprotein abnormalities and reducing cardiovascular risk in FCHL patients...

..Objective of the present paper was to evaluate the impact of the L75P apoA-I variant on HDL subpopulations and cholesterol esterification in carriers...

..To our knowledge, an acquired LCAT deficiency leading to severe HD has not been reported previously in association with a malignant disease, and this patient represents the first such documented case...

..Circular dichroism on synthetic HDL containing apoA-I(M)-apoA-II was consistent with the alpha-helix content computed on the proposed model...

..Therapeutic interventions raising plasma HDL levels or directly mimicking its beneficial effects represent the next frontier in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease...

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..Recently, 4 related individuals with primary hypolipidemia were found to be compound heterozygotes for ANGPTL3 loss-of-function mutations...

..Although at early stages of drug development, A-I(M)/A-I(M) sHDL holds vast promise for the treatment of a variety of cardiovascular diseases in humans...

..An increased CAMs expression may be a mechanism by which a low plasma HDL level promotes atherogenesis and causes acute atherothrombotic events...

..To better understand the role of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in lipoprotein metabolism through the genetic and biochemical characterization of families carrying mutations in the LCAT gene...

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..5/12.7 nm rHDL is likely connected to the higher number of protein-lipid and lipid-lipid interactions in larger as compared with smaller rHDL...

..At acidic pH, apoA-I does not form aggregates and has little secondary structure; unfolding is then a progressive rather than a cooperative process...

..The objective of this study was to establish whether this high-risk lipid/lipoprotein profile is associated with structural changes in the carotid arteries and heart, indicative of preclinical atherosclerosis...

..These results suggest AIM-PL complexes enhanced lipid removal from arteries is the mechanism responsible for the observed plaque changes...

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..A low plasma HDL level may expose the heart to excessive ischemia-reperfusion damage, and HDL-targeted therapies may be helpful to induce immediate or delayed myocardial protection from ischemia-reperfusion injury...

..These findings challenge the notion that LCAT is required for effective atheroprotection and suggest that elevating LCAT expression and/or activity is not a promising therapeutic strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk...

..This suggests the presence of a novel carboxy-terminal domain in A-I(M)/A-I(M), not organized in a compact structure and not shared by wild-type apoA-I, which may account for the unique functional properties of A-I(M)/A-I(M)...

..In HC patients, the presence of tendon xanthomas was associated with twofold higher Lp(a) levels. These findings argue for a regulatory role of triglycerides on plasma Lp(a) levels in hyperlipidemic patients...

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..Although at early stages of drug development, sHDL hold vast promise for plaque stabilization/regression, and cardiovascular event reduction...

..The reduction of plasma cholesterol levels was associated with a complete regression of the xanthomas, supporting DF apheresis as a first-choice treatment for patients with massive LP-X accumulation due to cholestasis...

..The easy accessibility of the arterial lesion allows serial IVUS investigations and the direct evaluation of a number of locally or generally delivered therapeutic agents...

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..This observation supports the concept that limited extracellular proteolysis of apoA-I is one pathophysiologic mechanism leading to the generation and maintenance of foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions...

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..Our results are compatible with the view that HDL(3) promotes ABCA1-mediated lipid efflux entirely through its lipid-poor fraction with pre-beta mobility...

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..The secretory process may be of importance for assuring the correct lipoprotein destination of PON1 and thus its functional efficiency...

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..These levels, however, were lower in L141R carriers than in carriers of c.85 del C. Haplotype analysis performed using several polymorphisms suggested that both the c.85 del C and L141R are likely to be recurrent mutations...

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..Independent of the interaction with the cell surface, it may be the decreased ability of the truncated apoA-I to recruit membrane phospholipids that impairs its capacity to promote cell cholesterol efflux...