Lipoproteins are globular particles of varying size and composition, configured so that their outer surface is hydrophilic and their inner core, which contains immiscible lipids, hydrophobic.
High density lipoproteins (HDL) are the smallest and the densest of all plasma lipoproteins.
Protein forms the major building blocks of HDL. HDL carries a particular large number of proteins as compared to other lipoprotein species.
HDLs are composed of lipids (– including phospholipid, cholesterol and triglyceride) and apolipoproteins. The core consists of cholesterol ester and triglycerides.
The major structural apolipoproteins of HDL is apolipoproteins A-1 (apoA-I) and the majority of HDLs contain apoA-I.
HDL plays an important role in transporting cholesterol from peripheral tissues directly back to the liver or indirectly via intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and low density lipoprotein, in a process popularly referred to as reverse cholesterol transport pathway.
HDL display antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to inhibit the activation and binding of monocytes to the endothelium.
High density lipoprotein
