Intracellular trafficking and secretion of VLDL

Steady increase in the incidence of atherosclerosis is becoming a major concern not only in the United States but also in other countries. One of the major risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis is high concentrations of plasma low-density lipoprotein, which are metabolic products of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). VLDLs are synthesized and secreted by the liver. In this review, we discuss various stages through which VLDL particles go from their biogenesis to secretion in the circulatory system. Once VLDLs are synthesized in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, they are transported to the Golgi. The transport of nascent VLDLs from the endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi is a complex multistep process, which is mediated by a specialized transport vesicle, the VLDL transport vesicle. The VLDL transport vesicle delivers VLDLs to the cis-Golgi lumen where nascent VLDLs undergo a number of essential modifications. The mature VLDL particles are then transported to the plasma membrane and secreted in the circulatory system. Understanding of molecular mechanisms and identification of factors regulating the complex intracellular VLDL trafficking will provide insight into the pathophysiology of various metabolic disorders associated with abnormal VLDL secretion and identify potential new therapeutic targets.