The heparan sulfate proteoglycan grip on hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Abstract Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are found at the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix, where they interact with a plethora of proteins involved in lipid homeostasis and inflammation. Over the last decade, new insights have emerged regarding the mechanism and biological significance of these interactions in the context of cardiovascular disease. The majority of cardiovascular disease-related deaths are caused by complications of atherosclerosis, a disease that results in narrowing of the arterial lumen, thereby reducing blood flow to critical levels in vital organs, such as the heart and brain. Here, we discuss novel insights into how heparan sulfate proteoglycans modulate risk factors such as hyperlipidemia and inflammation that drive the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic plaques to their clinical critical endpoint. Highlights • We provide an overview of heparan sulfate proteoglycan structure and assembly. • We describe the role of matrix and membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans in lipoprotein metabolism. • We show the evidence that hepatic syndecan-1 mediates triglyceride-rich lipoprotein clearance. • We describe the importance of neutrophil, endothelial cell and macrophage heparan sulfate proteoglycans in atherogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]