Lipid oxidation products, lipoprotein function and atherosclerosis

Cholesterol has ruled the history of atherosclerosis for decades, and the transport of cholesterol by lipoproteins has become a cornerstone of our view of etiology of the disease. Discovery of the lipoprotein-specific transport of lipid oxidation products (LOP) has opened a new and exciting area in atherosclerosis research by revealing strong connections between atherogenic LOP, lipoprotein transport functions and atherosclerosis. This book reviews the evidence in support of the lipoprotein-specific LOP transport, and speculates of possible consequences of the proposed role of lipoprotein LOP transport as a risk factor. Associations of lipoprotein LOP with atherosclerosis are largely parallel with those of cholesterol, and due to the common transport and cellular intake mechanisms the elucidation of independent effects of either cholesterol or LOP is difficult. Yet, unlike cholesterol, LOP can directly initiate and boost atherogenic processes. It appears therefore inevitable that increasing knowledge of the lipoprotein-specific LOP transport will alter the present view of the role of cholesterol in etiology and as a risk factor of atherosclerosis.