Lipoproteins versus structural glycoproteins: atherosclerosis as an analogue and competitor of normal connective tissue interactions.

There is a striking resemblance, in amino-acid composition and properties, between one class of structural glycoproteins from connective tissue and the apo low density lipoproteins (LDL) of blood plasma. It is suggested that there is a structurally specific analogy between the early atherogenic accumulation of LDL (and more particularly Lp(a), in arterial connective tissue and the normal interactions of structural glycoproteins with other connective tissue components, particularly proteoglycans and collagen.