Free Cholesterol in “Good” Cholesterol Linked to Heart Disease Risk
“Good” Cholesterol May Not Be So Good After All: Houston Researchers Make Surprising Discovery
Houston, TX - A groundbreaking study from Houston Methodist researchers is challenging long-held beliefs about “good” cholesterol, revealing that certain components within high-density lipoproteins (HDL) could actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Led by Dr. Henry J. Pownall, professor of biochemistry in medicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, and dr.Khurram nasir, a cardiologist at Houston Methodist, the research team is delving into the complex world of HDL and its impact on heart health.
“We all know about ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) and ’good’ cholesterol (HDL),” explains Dr. Pownall. “But what many people don’t realize is that both types of cholesterol exist in two forms: free cholesterol, which is active and involved in cellular processes, and esterified cholesterol, which is more stable and stored in the body.”
The team’s pre-clinical studies have shown that HDL with a high concentration of free cholesterol may be dysfunctional. To confirm these findings, they launched the NIH-funded Houston heart Study, currently halfway through its analysis of 400 patients with varying HDL levels.”Our most surprising discovery so far is the strong link between the amount of free cholesterol in HDL and its accumulation in white blood cells called macrophages,” says Dr. Pownall. “These macrophages can contribute to the development of heart disease.”
This finding contradicts the previous understanding that transferring free cholesterol to HDL was beneficial for heart health. Dr. Pownall’s data suggests that in individuals with high HDL concentrations, this transfer could actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The researchers are optimistic about the implications of their work. Once they confirm the link between excess free cholesterol in HDL and cardiovascular disease, they plan to develop new diagnostic tools and treatments. They also aim to use HDL-free cholesterol as a biomarker to identify patients who would benefit from HDL-lowering therapies.
“We believe we can achieve this goal within the next three years,” says Dr. Pownall.”There are already drugs that affect free cholesterol in pre-clinical models, so we could possibly test these in humans if our findings warrant it.”
If successful, Dr. Pownall envisions applying these discoveries to clinical settings within six years, potentially revolutionizing the way we understand and treat heart disease.
“Good” Cholesterol May Not Be So Good After All: Houston Researchers Make Surprising Discovery
Houston, TX – New research from Houston Methodist is challenging long-held beliefs about “good” cholesterol, suggesting that certain components within high-density lipoproteins (HDL) could actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Led by Dr. Henry J. Pownall, professor of biochemistry in medicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Dr.Khurram Nasir, a cardiologist at Houston Methodist, the team is investigating the complex relationship between HDL and heart health.
“We all know about ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) and ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL),” explains Dr. Pownall. “But what many people don’t realize is that both types of cholesterol exist in two forms: free cholesterol, which is active and involved in cellular processes, and esterified cholesterol, which is more stable and stored in the body.”
Pre-clinical studies have shown that HDL with a high concentration of free cholesterol may be dysfunctional. To confirm these findings, the NIH-funded Houston heart Study is currently halfway through its analysis of 400 patients with varying HDL levels.
“Our most surprising discovery so far is the strong link between the amount of free cholesterol in HDL and its accumulation in white blood cells called macrophages,” says Dr.Pownall. “These macrophages can contribute to the development of heart disease.”
This finding contradicts previous understanding that transferring free cholesterol to HDL was beneficial for heart health. Dr. Pownall’s data suggests that in individuals with high HDL concentrations, this transfer could actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The researchers are optimistic about the implications of their work.
“We believe we can achieve this goal within the next three years,” says Dr.Pownall. “There are already drugs that affect free cholesterol in pre-clinical models, so we could possibly test these in humans if our findings warrant it.”
If prosperous,dr. Pownall envisions applying these discoveries to clinical settings within six years, potentially revolutionizing the way we understand and treat heart disease.