Elevated Lipoprotein(a): Background, Current Insights and Future Potential Therapies.

Lipoprotein(a) forms a subfraction of the lipid profile and is characterized by the addition of apolipprotein(a) (apo(a)) to apoB100 derived particles. Its levels are mostly genetically determined inversely related to the number of protein domain (kringle) repeats in apo(a). In epidemiological studies, it shows consistent association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and most recently with extent of aortic stenosis.

Low cholesterol syndrome and drug development.

Purpose Of Review: Low cholesterol syndromes were considered curiosities. The present article reviews some hypolipidaemic disorders and the drugs developed from the insights they provided.

Recent Findings: Abetalipopoproteinaemia and hypobetalipoproteinaemia are associated with low cholesterol concentrations and caused by mutations in apolipoprotein (apo) B or microsomal transfer protein.

Calsequestrin interacts directly with the cardiac ryanodine receptor luminal domain.

Cardiac muscle contraction requires sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca release mediated by the quaternary complex comprising the ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2), calsequestrin 2 (CSQ2), junctin (encoded by ASPH) and triadin. Here, we demonstrate that a direct interaction exists between RyR2 and CSQ2. Topologically, CSQ2 binding occurs at the first luminal loop of RyR2.

Effects of long-acting erythropoietin analog darbepoetin-α on adriamycin-induced chronic nephropathy.

Objectives: To study the effects of darbepoetin-α (DPO-α) (erythropoietin analog) on adriamycin (ADR)-induced chronic nephropathy in rats.

Methods: Sixty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 3 groups (23 rats each): negative control group: normal rats received saline as a vehicle; positive control (ADR) group: rats received 2 iv injection of ADR via penile vein at 14-day interval without treatment; and DPO-α group: as ADR group but rats received sc DPO-α (0.3 μg/kg bw) once weekly for 12 weeks.