Epidemiological data clearly show the existence of a strong inverse correlation between plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations and the incidence of coronary heart disease. This relation is explained by a number of atheroprotective properties of HDL, first of all the ability to promote macrophage cholesterol transport. HDL are highly heterogeneous and are continuously remodeled in plasma thanks to the action of a number of proteins and enzymes. Among them, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) plays a crucial role, being the only enzyme able to esterify cholesterol within lipoproteins. LCAT is synthetized by the liver and it has been thought to play a major role in reverse cholesterol transport and in atheroprotection. However, data from animal studies, as well as human studies, have shown contradictory results. Increased LCAT concentrations are associated with increased HDL-C levels but not necessarily with atheroprotection. On the other side, decreased LCAT concentration and activity are associated with decreased HDL-C levels but not with increased atherosclerosis. These contradictory results confirm that HDL-C levels per se do not represent the functionality of the HDL system.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Association between Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, high‑density lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular health (Review)
  Tao Shen, Yanfang Li, Tingting Liu, Yunzhi Lian, Luke Kong
  Biomedical Reports.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Cholesterol transport and beyond: Illuminating the versatile functions of HDL apolipoproteins through structural insights and functional implications
  Aishwarya Sudam Bhale, Olivier Meilhac, Christian Lefebvre d'Hellencourt, Mookambeswaran A. Vijayalakshmi, Krishnan Venkataraman
  BioFactors.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Link between Magnesium Supplements and Statin Medication in Dyslipidemic Patients
  Roxana Nartea, Brindusa Ilinca Mitoiu, Ioana Ghiorghiu
  Current Issues in Molecular Biology.2023; 45(4): 3146.     CrossRef
• Mannose-Coated Reconstituted Lipoprotein Nanoparticles for the Targeting of Tumor-Associated Macrophages: Optimization, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation of Effectiveness
  Akpedje S. Dossou, Morgan E. Mantsch, Ammar Kapic, William L. Burnett, Nirupama Sabnis, Jeffery L. Coffer, Rance E. Berg, Rafal Fudala, Andras G. Lacko
  Pharmaceutics.2023; 15(6): 1685.     CrossRef
• Abdominal obesity negatively influences key metrics of reverse cholesterol transport
  Jennifer Härdfeldt, Marica Cariello, Sara Simonelli, Alice Ossoli, Natasha Scialpi, Marilidia Piglionica, Emanuela Pasculli, Alessia Noia, Elsa Berardi, Patrizia Suppressa, Giuseppina Piazzolla, Carlo Sabbà, Laura Calabresi, Antonio Moschetta
  Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids.2022; 1867(2): 159087.     CrossRef
• Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 on dyslipidaemia: A randomized controlled study
  Hua Jiang, Shengjie Tan, Ke Ning, Hao Li, Wenzhi Zhao, Ai Zhao, Hong Zhu, Shijie Wang, Peiyu Wang, Yumei Zhang
  Journal of Functional Foods.2022; 89: 104956.     CrossRef
• LCAT- targeted therapies: Progress, failures and future
  Kaixu Yang, Junmin Wang, Hongjiao Xiang, Peilun Ding, Tao Wu, Guang Ji
  Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.2022; 147: 112677.     CrossRef
• Cyclodextrin boostered-high density lipoprotein for antiatherosclerosis by regulating cholesterol efflux and efferocytosis
  Yanyan Wang, Hai Gao, Xinya Huang, Zhaoan Chen, Pengyu Kang, Yunyi Zhou, Danhua Qin, Wenli Zhang, Jianping Liu
  Carbohydrate Polymers.2022; 292: 119632.     CrossRef
• Lipidomic Approaches to Study HDL Metabolism in Patients with Central Obesity Diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome
  Gabriele Mocciaro, Simona D’Amore, Benjamin Jenkins, Richard Kay, Antonio Murgia, Luis Vicente Herrera-Marcos, Stefanie Neun, Alice P. Sowton, Zoe Hall, Susana Alejandra Palma-Duran, Giuseppe Palasciano, Frank Reimann, Andrew Murray, Patrizia Suppressa, C
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2022; 23(12): 6786.     CrossRef
• rHDL modeling and the anchoring mechanism of LCAT activation
  Tommaso Laurenzi, Chiara Parravicini, Luca Palazzolo, Uliano Guerrini, Elisabetta Gianazza, Laura Calabresi, Ivano Eberini
  Journal of Lipid Research.2021; 62: 100006.     CrossRef
• Vasculoprotective properties of plasma lipoproteins from brown bears (Ursus arctos)
  Matteo Pedrelli, Paolo Parini, Jonas Kindberg, Jon M. Arnemo, Ingemar Bjorkhem, Ulrika Aasa, Maria Westerståhl, Anna Walentinsson, Chiara Pavanello, Marta Turri, Laura Calabresi, Katariina Öörni, Gérman Camejo, Ole Fröbert, Eva Hurt-Camejo
  Journal of Lipid Research.2021; 62: 100065.     CrossRef
• The Fate of Dietary Cholesterol in the Kissing Bug Rhodnius prolixus
  Petter F. Entringer, David Majerowicz, Katia C. Gondim
  Frontiers in Physiology.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Excesive consumption of unsaturated fatty acids leads to oxidative and inflammatory instability in Wistar rats
  Jelica D. Grujić-Milanović, Zoran Z. Miloradović, Nevena D. Mihailović-Stanojević, Vojislav V. Banjac, Strahinja Vidosavljević, Milan S. Ivanov, Danijela J. Karanović, Una-Jovana V. Vajić, Djurdjica M. Jovović
  Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.2021; 139: 111691.     CrossRef
• Cholesterol Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer and Its Pharmacological Modulation as Therapeutic Strategy
  Isabella Giacomini, Federico Gianfanti, Maria Andrea Desbats, Genny Orso, Massimiliano Berretta, Tommaso Prayer-Galetti, Eugenio Ragazzi, Veronica Cocetta
  Frontiers in Oncology.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association between Serum Concentrations of Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) and Alzheimer’s Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Marco Zuin, Carlo Cervellati, Alessandro Trentini, Angelina Passaro, Valentina Rosta, Francesca Zimetti, Giovanni Zuliani
  Diagnostics.2021; 11(6): 984.     CrossRef
• Dapagliflozin reduces thrombin generation and platelet activation: implications for cardiovascular risk reduction in type 2 diabetes mellitus
  Christina Kohlmorgen, Stephen Gerfer, Kathrin Feldmann, Sören Twarock, Sonja Hartwig, Stefan Lehr, Meike Klier, Irena Krüger, Carolin Helten, Petra Keul, Sabine Kahl, Amin Polzin, Margitta Elvers, Ulrich Flögel, Malte Kelm, Bodo Levkau, Michael Roden, Jen
  Diabetologia.2021; 64(8): 1834.     CrossRef
• Impact of Dietary Lipids on the Reverse Cholesterol Transport: What We Learned from Animal Studies
  Bianca Papotti, Joan Carles Escolà-Gil, Josep Julve, Francesco Potì, Ilaria Zanotti
  Nutrients.2021; 13(8): 2643.     CrossRef
• Supramolecular copolymer modified statin-loaded discoidal rHDLs for atherosclerotic anti-inflammatory therapy by cholesterol efflux and M2 macrophage polarization
  Qiqi Zhang, Jianhua He, Fengfei Xu, Xinya Huang, Yanyan Wang, Wenli Zhang, Jianping Liu
  Biomaterials Science.2021; 9(18): 6153.     CrossRef
• Association between Small Dense Low-Density Lipoproteins and High-Density Phospolipid Content in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease with or without Diabetes
  Hanene Aoua, Ymène Nkaies, Ali Ben Khalfallah, Mohsen Sakly, Ezzedine Aouani, Nebil Attia
  Laboratory Medicine.2020; 51(3): 271.     CrossRef
• Biomechanical and biochemical investigation of erythrocytes in late stage human leptospirosis
  J.A.X. Silva, A.V.P. Albertini, C.S.M. Fonseca, D.C.N. Silva, V.C.O. Carvalho, V.L.M. Lima, A. Fontes, E.V.L. Costa, R.A. Nogueira
  Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Cardioprotective Properties of HDL: Structural and Functional Considerations
  Eleni Pappa, Moses S. Elisaf, Christina Kostara, Eleni Bairaktari, Vasilis K. Tsimihodimos
  Current Medicinal Chemistry.2020; 27(18): 2964.     CrossRef
• Relationship between non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol/apolipoprotein A-I and monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and coronary heart disease
  Ya Li, Shu Li, Yulin Ma, Jialing Li, Mingying Lin, Jing Wan
  Coronary Artery Disease.2020; 31(7): 623.     CrossRef
• Lipid transfer to high‐density lipoproteins in coronary artery disease patients with and without previous cerebrovascular ischemic events
  Carlos J.D.G. Barbosa, Raul C. Maranhão, Renata S. Barreiros, Fatima R. Freitas, André Franci, Célia M.C. Strunz, Flávia B.B. Arantes, Thauany M. Tavoni, José A.F. Ramires, Roberto Kalil Filho, José C. Nicolau
  Clinical Cardiology.2019; 42(11): 1100.     CrossRef
• Antibodies Against the C-Terminus of ApoA-1 Are Inversely Associated with Cholesterol Efflux Capacity and HDL Metabolism in Subjects with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
  Robin Dullaart, Sabrina Pagano, Frank Perton, Nicolas Vuilleumier
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2019; 20(3): 732.     CrossRef
• The effect of chronic kidney disease on lipid metabolism
  Neris Dincer, Tuncay Dagel, Baris Afsar, Adrian Covic, Alberto Ortiz, Mehmet Kanbay
  International Urology and Nephrology.2019; 51(2): 265.     CrossRef
• Biological Consequences of Dysfunctional HDL
  Angela Pirillo, Alberico Luigi Catapano, Giuseppe Danilo Norata
  Current Medicinal Chemistry.2019; 26(9): 1644.     CrossRef
• Plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase and phospholipid transfer protein activity independently associate with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  Karlijn J. Nass, Eline H. van den Berg, Eke G. Gruppen, Robin P. F. Dullaart
  European Journal of Clinical Investigation.2018;[Epub]     CrossRef
• An integrated metabolomic strategy for the characterization of the effects of Chinese yam and its three active components on septic cardiomyopathy
  Ning Zhou, Meng-Nan Zeng, Kai Li, Yan-Yun Yang, Zhi-Yao Bai, Xiao-Ke Zheng, Wei-Sheng Feng
  Food & Function.2018; 9(9): 4989.     CrossRef
• Effect of Rosuvastatin on Cholesterol Efflux Capacity and Endothelial Function in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Dyslipidemia
  Kyong Yeun Jung, Kyoung Min Kim, Sun Kyoung Han, Han Mi Yun, Tae Jung Oh, Sung Hee Choi, Kyong Soo Park, Hak Chul Jang, Soo Lim
  Circulation Journal.2018; 82(5): 1387.     CrossRef
• Association Between Serum LDL-C and ApoB and SYNTAX Score in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease
  Taiwu Lin, Luzhao Wang, Jingbin Guo, Peng Liu, Liheng Chen, Mengqiu Wei, Gongxin Li
  Angiology.2018; 69(8): 724.     CrossRef
• Influence of i.v. lipid emulsion on lipoprotein subclass in preterm infants
  Hiroki Suganuma, Naho Ikeda, Natsuki Ohkawa, Hiromichi Shoji, Toshiaki Shimizu
  Pediatrics International.2018; 60(9): 839.     CrossRef
• The HDL cholesterol/apolipoprotein A-I ratio: an indicator of cardiovascular disease
  Eun-Jung Rhee, Christopher D. Byrne, Ki-Chul Sung
  Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Obesity.2017; 24(2): 148.     CrossRef
• Moringa Leaves Prevent Hepatic Lipid Accumulation and Inflammation in Guinea Pigs by Reducing the Expression of Genes Involved in Lipid Metabolism
  Manal Almatrafi, Marcela Vergara-Jimenez, Ana Murillo, Gregory Norris, Christopher Blesso, Maria Fernandez
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2017; 18(7): 1330.     CrossRef