To the Editor:
In a recent article in Circulation Research, Zhang et al reported “spontaneous atherosclerosis in aged lipoprotein lipase–deficient mice with severe hypertriglyceridemia on a normal chow diet.”1 We would like to draw your attention to differences in lipid metabolism between mice and humans.2,3 Wild-type mice have high levels of serum HDL cholesterol as a result of minimal cholesterol ester transfer protein activity.4 Lipoprotein lipase (LPL)–deficient mice have elevated amounts of cholesterol in the very-low-density lipoprotein fraction. LPL-deficient humans, however, do not have an elevated very-low-density lipoprotein.5 Moreover, LPL-deficient humans have reduced LDL cholesterol levels. Chylomicrons are thought to be nonatherogenic, because they cannot easily enter the arterial wall.6 Although atherogenecity of chylomicrons could be demonstrated in mice, low levels of LDL cholesterol would offset its influence on arteriosclerosis in humans.
Acknowledgments
Sources of Funding
This study was supported in part by a Research Grant from the Takada Science Foundation.
Disclosures
None.
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- Is LPL Deficiency Atherogenic?
