HDL family consists of a group of heterogenous class of lipoproteins most of which contain apo AI and exhibit alfha electrophoretic mobility. Epidemiological studies show that coronary heart disease is inversely proportional to the concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. HDL-cholesterol is found to be a significant predictor of overall survival following coronary artery bypass graft and event free survival. Protective role of HDL is generally explained by its reverse cholesterol transport ability. However, extensive researches have started to reveal other functions of HDL particles, new subclasses of HDL and mechanisms of action.
Keywords: HDL-cholesterol, Apo A, reverse cholesterol transport