Plasma concentration of HDL cholesterol in humans: relationship with whole-body cholesterol metabolism and with cholesterol metabolism in monocytes

• Grant number: 09/53865-3
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• Start date: November 01, 2010
• End date: October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Eder Carlos Rocha Quintão
• Grantee: Eder Carlos Rocha Quintão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• EMU web page: Página do Equipamento Multiusuário não informada
• Type of equipment: Tipo de Equipamento Multiusuário não informado
• Manufacturer: Fabricante não informado
• Model: Modelo não informado

Abstract

Low plasma levels of HDL cholesterol are correlated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease in a much more significant manner than are high plasma levels of LDL cholesterol, which makes low HDL a more important risk factor. Although the mechanisms of LDL atherogenicity have been well elucidated, the exact mechanism by which HDL exerts its antiatherogenic effects remains unclear. One possibility is the involvement of HDL in reverse cholesterol transport, a system by which cholesterol from peripheral tissues, including the arterial intima, is captured by the liver and secreted into bile. The control of the whole-body cholesterol metabolism should have the following features: 1) more variation in function attributed to plasma HDL than to plasma LDL concentration; 2) blood monocytes reflecting the whole-body cholesterol synthesis; 3) cholesterol synthesis being inversely related to intestinal cholesterol absorption. Given these premises this proposal aims at determining the relationship between plasma HDL concentration and whole body cholesterol storage in blood monocytes and plasma markers of non-cholesterol synthesis and absorption sterols. Given these premises, this proposal is aimed at determining the relationship between plasma HDL concentrations and whole-body cholesterol storage. (AU)