载脂蛋白M与脂质代谢及疾病的研究进展

Research on apoM affecting lipid metabolism and its related diseases

分子量约26KD的载脂蛋白M(apolipoprotein M,apoM)是脂蛋白超家族(Lipocalin)的成员。apoM特异性在肝实质细胞和肾小管上皮细胞表达,其生理功能可能与肝脏和肾脏的功能密切相关。成熟apoM保留的疏水信号肽介导其"锚着"于脂蛋白颗粒的脂质部分,参与机体脂质代谢。血浆apoM主要存在于高密度脂蛋白(highdensity lipoprotein,HDL)颗粒中,与前β-HDL的形成有密切关系,参与HDL颗粒的重塑,对维持正常的脂质代谢有重要作用。动物实验进一步证实apoM可能有抗动脉粥样硬化的作用。apoM的深入研究将会为脂代谢异常的疾病如冠心病,糖尿病,肝病等机制的研究打开新的视野,提供新的线索。

ApoM,which is of 26 kDa,belongs to the lipocalin protein superfamily and is exclusively expressed in the liver parenchyma cells and tubular cells of kidney.That is indicated that the physiological function of apoM must be related with the functions of liver and kidney.ApoM mature protein retains its uncleaved signal peptide which serves as a hydrophobic anchor to the lipoproteins.Plasma apoM is predominantly found in HDL and it can stimulate the formation of pre-β HDL,which supports that apoM plays an important role in HDL remodeling in humans.Experiments with transgenic mice suggested that apoM might also be involved in the anti-atherosclerosis process.The further physiological functions of apoM have not yet been well defined.Future studies about apoM will explore a new way for the research of dyslipidemia diseases such as coronary artery disease,diabetes and liver disease.