Hyperhomocysteinemia and high-density lipoprotein metabolism in cardiovascular disease

Abstract

AbstractHyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is a significant and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the underlying mechanism is unclear. We and others have reported that homocysteine (Hcy) is inversely correlated with plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein AI (apoA-I) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). We confirmed this negative correlation in mice with targeted deletions of the genes for apolipoprotein E (apoE) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). Severe HHcy (plasma Hcy 210 μmol/L) accelerates spontaneous arthrosclerosis in the CBSClin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:1652–9.