Remodelling of high density lipoproteins by plasma factors.

Evidence that the high density lipoproteins (HDL) in human plasma are antiatherogenic has stimulated considerable interest in the factors which regulate their structure and function. Plasma HDL consist of a number of subpopulations of particles of varying size, density and composition. This structural heterogeneity is caused by the continual remodelling of individual HDL subpopulations by various plasma factors. One of the consequences of this remodelling is that the HDL subpopulations in plasma are functionally diverse, particularly in terms of their antiatherogenic properties. This review documents what is currently known about the interaction of HDL with plasma factors and presents an overview of the remodelling of HDL which occurs as a consequence of those interactions.