Plasma lipoprotein (LP)

Plasma lipoproteins are complex macromolecular assemblies consisting of a hydrophobic core of triglycerides and cholesteryl esters surrounded by a hydrophilic shell of phospholipids, free cholesterol, and specialized proteins called apolipoproteins (Feingold KR, Endotext, 2024). They are essential for transporting water-insoluble lipids through the aqueous environment of the bloodstream to various tissues for energy production, membrane synthesis, and steroid hormone precursor delivery (Jia et al., Journal of Lipid Research, 2021). Lipoproteins are categorized based on their density and size into chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) (StatPearls, 2023). Pathologically, elevated levels of pro-atherogenic lipoproteins, particularly LDL and Lipoprotein(a), are major drivers of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (NIH, 2022). Therapeutic strategies focus on lowering these pro-atherogenic particles through various mechanisms, including inhibiting cholesterol synthesis, enhancing hepatic clearance via receptor upregulation, or preventing the assembly of lipid-rich particles (Nature Reviews Cardiology, 2022). Monitoring these particles via lipid panels is a cornerstone of cardiovascular risk assessment and management.

Other names

Lipoprotein particleSerum lipoproteinLipoprotein complexCirculating lipoprotein

Drugs modulate plasma lipoproteins by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol synthesis (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors), blocking intestinal lipid absorption (NPC1L1 inhibitors), increasing hepatic uptake of particles via receptor upregulation (PCSK9 inhibitors/siRNA), activating nuclear receptors to alter apolipoprotein expression (PPAR-alpha agonists), or inhibiting the assembly of triglyceride-rich particles (MTP inhibitors and ApoB antisense oligonucleotides).