The synthesis and metabolism of the lipoproteins implicated in atherosclerosis.

The basic concepts of lipoprotein biogenesis and metabolism have been briefly reviewed. Emphasis has been placed upon the distinctive roles of the liver and intestine in apolipoprotein synthesis and delivery, upon the complex interchange of lipids and apolipoproteins between lipoproteins which accompanies nascent lipoprotein maturation and metabolism within the vascular compartment, upon the primary role of these latter processes in the genesis of low density lipoprotein and upon remodelling of nascent lipoproteins to achieve a structure suitable for the function of the mature between the liver, intestine and peripheral tissues.