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Recombinant apolipoprotein A-IMilano for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

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Abstract

Apolipoprotein A-IMilano (apoA-IM) is a natural variant of apoA-I characterized by a cysteine for arginine substitution at position 173 of the primary sequence. ApoA-IM carriers have much less atherosclerosis than expected from their very low plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, suggesting that the variant might be protective. Synthetic HDL (sHDL) made with a recombinant form of the dimeric A-IM (A-IM/A-IM) and phospholipids given in single or multiple injections is effective in inducing the regression of atherosclerotic plaques, preventing arterial restenosis, and limiting cardiac dysfunction after ischemia/reperfusion injury. In a phase II trial in patients with acute coronary syndromes, a short-term treatment with A-IM/A-IM sHDL caused a remarkable reduction of atheroma burden. Although at early stages of drug development, A-IM/A-IM sHDL holds vast promise for the treatment of a variety of cardiovascular diseases in humans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center E. Grossi Paoletti, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Laura Calabresi PhD

Authors
  1. Laura Calabresi PhD
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  2. Cesare R. Sirtori MD, PhD
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  3. Rodolfo Paoletti MD
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  4. Guido Franceschini PhD
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Correspondence to Laura Calabresi PhD.

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Calabresi, L., Sirtori, C.R., Paoletti, R. et al. Recombinant apolipoprotein A-IMilano for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Curr Atheroscler Rep 8, 163–167 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-006-0054-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-006-0054-4

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