ADENOVIRAL EXPRESSION OF HUMAN LCAT IN NON-HUMAN PRIMATES LEADS TO AN ANTI-ATHEROGENIC LIPOPROTEIN PHENOTYPE BY INCREASING HDL AND LOWERING LDL

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), a key enzyme in HDL metabolism, has been proposed to have atheroprotective properties, by promoting reverse cholesterol transport. Over expression of LCAT in various animal models, however, has led to conflicting results on its overall effect on lipoproteins and atherosclerosis. In this study, the effect of overexpression of LCAT in non-human primates on lipoprotein metabolism is examined. Human LCAT was expressed with adenovirus in squirrel monkeys (n=8), resulting on day 4 in a 22-fold increase of LCAT activity (257±23 vs. 5618±799 nmol/mL/h; p