Biochemical
and Bioimaging Endpoints in Cardiocerebrovascular Diagnosis,
Prevention, Therapy and Drug Development
GLOSSARY
To
facilitate the dialogue among the multidisciplinary scientists,
definition of the acronyms and of more specialized terms have been
reported.
Every amendment is welcome.
By: Andrea P. Peracino
Stefano Bellosta
Nicola Ferri
Riccardo Roggeri
Apolipoprotein B (apo B) exists in human plasma as two isoforms, apo B-48 and apo B-100. Apo B-100 is the major physiological ligand for the LDL receptor. It is a large monomeric protein , containing 4536 amino acid residues. Apo B-100 is synthesised in the liver and is required for the assembly of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). It does not interchange between lipoprotein particles, as do the other lipoproteins, and it is found in IDL and LDL particles after the removal of the apolipoproteins A, apolipproteins E and apolipoproteins C.
Apo B-48 is present in chylomicrons and chylomicron remnants and plays an essential role in the intestinal absorption of dietary fats. Apo B-48 is synthesised in the small intestine.
Intermediate-Density Lipoporteins - IDL are a class of lipoproteins formed from the degradation of very low density lipoproteins, constituted essentially of triacylglycerols and cholesterol esters. They are cleared from the plasma into the liver by receptor-mediated endocytosis, or further degraded to form low density lipoproteins. They are usually 25 to 35 nm in diameter.
