Apolipoprotein B is an insufficient explanation for the risk of coronary disease associated with lipoprotein(a)

Lipoprotein(a) is a plasma lipoprotein composed of a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle linked to apolipoprotein(a). The risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) associated with lipoprotein(a) has been associated with both molar concentration and apolipoprotein(a) isoform size, which are inversely correlated properties and highly heritable.1 Similar to LDL, lipoprotein(a) harbours apolipoprotein B and is associated with increased risk of CAD. Apolipoprotein B is believed to be a key unifying feature of atherogenic lipoproteins.2 However, it is unclear to what extent non-apolipoprotein B-mediated mechanisms of lipoprotein(a) contribute to the pathogenicity of CAD in humans.1 Here, we investigated whether like LDL cholesterol (LDL-C),2 apolipoprotein B is sufficient to explain the risk of CAD associated with lipoprotein(a) particles.
Source: Cardiovascular Research - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research