ABCA1  ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, a cell membrane transporter that facilitates the delivery of cholesterol from cells to lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-I in the extracellular space.
 ABCG1  ATP-binding cassette transporter G1, a cell membrane transporter that promotes the transfer of cholesterol from cells to large alpha-migrating, spherical HDL.
 ApoA-I  Apolipoprotein A-I, the main protein in HDL that accounts for about 70% of the total HDL protein. Atheroprotective lipoprotein; important function in promoting the efflux of cholesterol from cells, and has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
 ApoA-IMilano  A variant of apoA-I with potent cholesterol efflux capacity
 ApoA-I mimetics  Investigational agents that mimic the effect of apoA-I
 ApoA-II  Apolipoprotein A-II, the second main protein in HDL that accounts for about 20% of the total HDL protein. Although its main function is not known, apoA-II increases the stability of the HDL particle
 ApoA-IV  Apolipoprotein IV, the third most abundant HDL apolipoprotein. ApoA-IV is distinct from apoA-I and apoA-II because a significant proportion of it can dissociate readily from HDL and circulates in a lipid-free form
 ApoB  Apolipoprotein B, the main protein component of LDL; atherogenic lipoprotein
 Atherogenic  Promoting atherosclerosis
 Atheroprotective  Protecting against atherosclerosis
 Atherosclerosis  An inflammatory disorder that is caused by the accumulation of atherogenic lipoproteins in the artery wall
 Cholesterol  A soft fatty waxy substance transported in the blood by lipoproteins. It is also present in all cells in the body. Cholesterol is used in producing cell membranes and some hormones, as well as other functions in the body
 CETP  Cholesteryl ester transfer protein. This is involved in redistribution of cholesteryl esters from HDL, where they are formed, to other plasma lipoprotein fractions. Plays a major role in the metabolism and remodelling of HDL
 Discoidal HDL  Two or three molecules of apolipoprotein A-I, the main protein component of HDL, plus phospholipid with or without unesterified cholesterol. A nascent form of HDL that exist only transiently before being converted to spherical HDL
 Dyslipidaemia  Abnormalities in lipid metabolism
 Fibrates  Fibrates mainly reduce triglycerides, as well as reducing LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol (by 5-20%). These agents work by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (Jane—some fibrates also activate PPAR beta/gamma and delta. Rather than get into this it may be better to simply say they activate PPARs
 HDL High-density lipoprotein, the smallest and most dense of the plasma lipoproteins.
HDL are categorised
1)       on the basis of density: HDL2< HDL3
2)       on the basis of size: HDL2b>HDL2a>HDL3a>HDL3b>HDL3c
3)       on the basis of apolipoprotein composition:
A-I HDL (apoA-I only) and A-I/A-II HDL (both apoA-I and apoA-II)
4)       on the basis of surface charge: alpha-migrating (spherical HDL) and pre-beta-migrating (discoidal HDL and lipid-poor apoA-I)
 HDL cholesterol  High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, good cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is a powerful inverse predictor of coronary heart disease
 HL  Hepatic lipase, a triglyceride lipase. HDL triglyceride is the preferred substrate
Hypomorphic allele An allele that reduces the expression of its target protein without eliminating it entirely.
 LCAT  Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase; an enzyme that catalyses the esterification of cholesterol in HDL, and accounts for most of the cholesteryl esters that circulate in the plasma. Plays a major role in the metabolism and remodelling of HDL
 LDL cholesterol  Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; bad cholesterol
 Lipid-poor apoA-I  A single molecule of apolipoprotein A-I, the main protein component of HDL, with a few molecules of phospholipid
 Lipoprotein  Protein that carries cholesterol in the blood
 Lipoprotein(a); Lp(a)  A genetic variant of low-density lipoprotein. An increased level is associated with increased risk of heart disease
 Lipoprotein lipase  A triglyceride lipase that hydrolyses triglycerides in very low-density lipoproteins and chylomicrons in a process that is accompanied by the transfer of phospholipids and apolipoproteins to HDL
 LXR  Liver X receptor agonist, an investigational agent that is a potent inducer of ABCA1
 Metabolic syndrome  A cluster of abnormalities including central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, mild hypertension and a pro-inflammatory state
 Nicotinic acid (niacin)  A form of vitamin B3, a naturally occurring vitamin. Nicotinic acid is the most potent drug available for raising HDL cholesterol (by up to 30%)
 Plaque  A build-up of fatty substance in the inner lining of the artery
 PLTP  Phospholipid transfer protein. This is involved in the transfer of phospholipids between HDL and other plasma lipoprotein fractions. Plays a major role in the metabolism and remodelling of HDL
 PON  Paraoxonase, an important anti-oxidant that circulates in the plasma mainly bound to HDL particles
 PPAR  Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, a nuclear transcription factor
 Risk factors  Conditions that increase the individual’s risk of developing heart disease
 SIP  Sphingosine-1-phosphate (SIP), a sphingolipid constituent of HDL that is responsible for vasodilatory effects
 Spherical HDL  Two or three molecules of apolipoprotein A-I, the main protein component of HDL, plus phospholipid, unesterified cholesterol, cholesteryl esters and triglyceride, with or without apolipoprotein II. Most HDL exists in spherical form.
 SR-B1  Scavenger receptor B1, an HDL receptor present mainly in the liver (as well as extraheptic tissue), that promotes selective uptake of HDL cholesterol
 Total cholesterol  Sum of all cholesterol types in the blood
 Triglycerides  A form of fat that comes from food and is also made in the body
 VLDL  Very low-density lipoprotein
ACCORD Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes. A substudy is investigating the effect of combination treatment with fenofibrate and simvastatin on clinical outcome in subjects with or at risk of cardiovascular disease
 AIM-HIGH  Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL-cholesterol/High Triglyceride and Impact on Global Health Outcomes. This study is evaluating the effect of combination treatment with prolonged-release nicotinic acid and simvastatin on clinical outcome in subjects with cardiovascular disease and low HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides
 ARBITER 2 and 3  ARterial Biology for the Investigation of the Treatment Effects of Reducing Cholesterol. These studies evaluated the effect of combination treatment with prolonged-release nicotinic acid and a statin for 1-2 years on progression of atherosclerosis in subjects with low HDL cholesterol and coronary heart disease. A surrogate cardiovascular endpoint, carotid intima-media thickness, was the primary endpoint
 BIP  Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention study, a secondary prevention trial with bezafibrate in men
 DAIS  Diabetes Atherosclerosis Intervention Study, a study in subjects with type 2 diabetes designed to investigate the effect of fenofibrate treatment on angiographic parameters of atherosclerosis
 FIELD  Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes study in patients with type 2 diabetes (78% with no prior cardiovascular disease).
 HATS  HDL-Atherosclerosis Treatment Study. This study evaluated the effect of combination treatment with immediate-release nicotinic acid and simvastatin on angiographic measurements of atherosclerosis progression in subjects with coronary heart disease
HHS   Helsinki Heart Study, a primary prevention trial in men with gemfibrozil
 ILLUMINATE  Investigation of Lipid Level Management to Understand Its Impact in Atherosclerotic Events in subjects with or at high risk of coronary heart disease; a trial involving torcetrapib
 ILLUSTRATE  Investigation of Lipid Level Management Using Coronary Ultrasound to Assess Reduction of Atherosclerosis by CETP Inhibition [using torcetrapib] and HDL Elevation
 PROCAM  Prospective Cardiovascular Münster study. An observational study that showed an inverse relationship between HDL cholesterol and coronary heart disease risk
 RADIANCE  Rating Atherosclerotic Disease Change by Imaging with a New CETP inhibitor [torcetrapib] in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (RADIANCE 1), or mixed dyslipidaemia (RADIANCE 2).
 VA-HIT Veterans Affairs HDL Intervention Trial, a secondary prevention trial with gemfibrozil in men with low levels of LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol