It is widely believed that high density lipoprotein (HDL) protects against cardiovascular
disease by removing excess cholesterol from cells of the artery wall. Recent cell culture
studies have provided evidence that a major pathway for removing cholesterol and
phospholipids from cells is mediated by the direct interactions of HDL apolipoproteins (apo)
with plasma membrane domains. These interactions efficiently clear cells of excess sterol by
targeting for removal pools of cholesterol that feed into the cholesteryl ester cycle. The …