Recent advances in apolipoprotein M and atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a complex pathological process, which has a close relationship with inflammatory response and disorder of lipid metabolism. The cardioprotective role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is related to its characters of protecting the vascular endothelial cells and the properties of anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) are thought to have the adverse effects on human atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein M (apoM, found in 1999) is an apolipoprotein mainly associated with HDLs. ApoM has a remarkable property of anti-atherosclerosis in animal experiment. However, recent studies have not yet been able to establish that apoM is a defining risk factor for human coronary heart disease, and the biological functions of apoM, including its potential role in human atherogenesis, need to be established.