Apolipoprotein A-I-stimulated secretion of apolipoprotein E by human foam cell macrophages.

动脉粥样硬化是一种引起动脉粥样硬化的疾病，这种疾病是心脏病发作和中风等严重疾病的基础。动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的一个关键组成部分是被称为泡沫细胞巨噬细胞的充满脂肪的细胞的积累。这些泡沫细胞可以被刺激分泌一种称为载脂蛋白E（或apo E）的特殊分子，从而减少动脉粥样硬化的数量。我们已经发现，我们可以刺激泡沫细胞分泌这种蛋白质，通过添加另一种分子，称为载脂蛋白A-I。本课题将研究载脂蛋白A-I如何刺激泡沫细胞分泌载脂蛋白E。通过这种方式，我们将能够调节载脂蛋白E的分泌，并能够增加其分泌。这可能导致我们能够治疗或预防动脉粥样硬化。

Atherosclerosis is the disease which causes narrowings in arteries underlying such serious conditions as heart attack and stroke. A key component of the formation of atherosclerotic narrowings in arteries is the accumulation of fat-filled cells called foam cell macrophages. These foam cells can be stimulated to secrete a special molecule called apolipoprotein E (or apo E), which reduces the amount of atherosclerosis. We have found that we can stimulate foam cells to secrete this protein by adding to them another molecule called apo A-I. This project will investigate how apo A-I stimulates the foam cells to secrete apo E. In this way we will be able to regulate the secretion of apo E, and be able to increase its secretion. This may result in our being able to treat or prevent atherosclerosis.