Multidimensional regulation of lipoprotein lipase: impact on biochemical and cardiovascular phenotypes

LPL contributes profoundly to physiologic lipoprotein metabolism and to tissue-specific substrate delivery and utilization (1). Perturbed LPL activity affects global energy balance, insulin action, body weight maintenance, and CVD risk; the latter alluded to by contemporary human genetic studies. LPL is the pivotal rate-limiting mediator of hydrolysis of core TGs from TG-rich lipoproteins, particularly chylomicrons and VLDL (2, 3). The products of LPL-mediated catalysis, such as fatty acids and monoacylglycerol, are handled differentially at local sites depending on the global hormonal and nutritional milieu, and local energy needs.