ABSTRACT
The observation that high density lipoproteins (HDL) have powerful anti-atherogenic properties has stimulated extensive research into this
lipoprotein fraction over the past two decades. There is now a substantial body of information about the structure and function of HDL. However, less is known about how HDL are regulated. There is also considerable uncertainty regarding the mechanism by which HDL inhibit the development of coronary heart disease. This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the structure of HDL, their subpopulation distribution, their metabolism and regulation, their functions, their relationship to atherosclerosis and finally, clinical states in which the concentration of HDL is abnormal.
