Protease Variants, LDL, and Coronary Heart Disease

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Just when we thought we understood everything about low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and its relationship to cardiovascular risk, along comes a discovery that reveals a new control mechanism and suggests a strategy for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.Plasma levels of LDL cholesterol are in large part determined by the activity of LDL receptors in the liver. Autosomal dominant familial hypercholesterolemia — with its high levels of LDL cholesterol, xanthomas, and premature atherosclerosis — is caused by mutations either in the gene encoding the LDL receptor or in the gene encoding apolipoprotein B — the protein in LDL cholesterol . . .