[Anti-Thrombotic Properties of High-Density Lipoprotein]

Along with the established evidence on the association between a low HDL cholesterol level and arterial thrombosis, several limited studies have suggested that low HDL cholesterol is also a risk factor for venous thrombosis, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. As well as emerging evidence from clinical studies, basic research has proposed the interaction between HDL and key molecules in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis; HDL interacts with megakaryocytes to affect the production of platelets, suppresses the aggregation of platelets, protects against the injury of endothelial cells, and inhibits coagulation and fibrinolysis cascades. Considering these reports together, HDL can possess anti-thrombotic properties as one of its pleiotropic effects other than its role in the reverse transport system of cholesterol. Further study on the basic mechanism of this property of HDL and medical applications are expected to lead to the development of novel anti-thrombotic reagents and new laboratory tests for thrombosis and hemostasis in the future.