Hopes to develop apolipoproteins for diagnostic or, even
better, therapeuticpurposes are growing. Areas of use may
range from arterial disease to AIDS, fertilization programs,
neurological or inflammatory disorders, and the like.
However, these young members of the large family of
circulating proteins still deserve careful study, both in
terms of structural and functional properties and of their
pathological changes. In addition, related molecules, in
particular belonging to the family of enzymes, such as
lipases and acyltransferases, offer exciting insight into
the mechanisms of regulation of lipid transport and
exchange.
Described hereis the use of apolipoproteins and enzymes in
the diagnosis of coronary and cerebrovascular disease.
Structural and functional changes of apolipoproteins are
related to lipid transport and binding to different
receptors. Further, the development of apolipoprotein drugs
and their possible clinical use for vascular and non
vascular disease is discussed and finally an overview on
lipoprotein transformation processes, expression systems and
natural mutants is provided.