动脉粥样硬化性心脑血管疾病是困扰人类健康的首要慢性炎症性疾病。而脂蛋白代谢异常是公认的动脉粥样硬化主要危险因素,2001年哥伦比亚大学的研究人员发现磷脂转运蛋白可以通过影响脂蛋白代谢进而改变动脉粥样硬化的易感性,从而开启了长达十多年的磷脂转运蛋白热点研究。从动物实验到人群调查使得人们对磷脂转运蛋白在脂蛋白代谢和动脉粥样硬化中作用的认识不断深入。
Atherosclerotic cerebral and cardiovascular diseases are the primary chronic inflammatory diseases which are impairing the human health. Abnormal lipid metabolism is considered as the putative major risk factor of atherosclero- sis. In 2001 , researchers from Columbia University hmnd that phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) couht affect lipopro- rein metabolism and then alternate atherosclerotic susceptibility, thus initiate the PLTP research as a hot topic for decades. Rest, its from animal experiments as well as population investigation are continuously deepening the understanding of the roles of PLTP ou lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis.