Karmansky I, Gruener N
Department of Biochemistry, Lady Davis Carmel Hospital, Haifa, Israel.
Clin Biochem. 1994 Jun;27(3):151-62. doi: 10.1016/0009-9120(94)90049-3.
Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a plasma macromolecular complex that is assembled from low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and a large hydrophilic glycoprotein, named apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], linked by a disulfide bond to apolipoprotein B-100. Apo(a) is formed by different structural domains one of which is present in multiple copies, the number of which is determined by variation in the hypervariable apo(a) gene. Sequence homology of apo(a) with plasminogen may explain the competition of Lp(a) for some physiological functions of plasminogen in the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascade in vitro. There is evidence that high plasma levels of Lp(a) may have atherogenic and/or thrombogenic potential. More work will have to be done to understand the exact role of Lp(a) in atherogenesis, to evaluate the potential synergy between Lp(a) and LDL in promoting coronary artery disease, and to assess the therapeutic benefits of a reduction of Lp(a) levels.
脂蛋白(a)[Lp(a)]是一种血浆大分子复合物，由低密度脂蛋白(LDL)和一种名为载脂蛋白(a)[apo(a)]的大型亲水性糖蛋白组装而成，通过二硫键与载脂蛋白B-100相连。Apo(a)由不同的结构域组成，其中一个结构域存在多个拷贝，其数量由高变apo(a)基因的变异决定。Apo(a)与纤溶酶原的序列同源性可能解释了Lp(a)在体外凝血和纤维蛋白溶解级联反应中对纤溶酶原某些生理功能的竞争。有证据表明，血浆中高水平的Lp(a)可能具有致动脉粥样硬化和/或致血栓形成的潜力。要了解Lp(a)在动脉粥样硬化发生的确切作用、评估Lp(a)与LDL在促进冠状动脉疾病方面的潜在协同作用以及评估降低Lp(a)水平的治疗益处，还需要做更多的工作。
