Angiopoietin-like protein 4: A therapeutic target for triglycerides and coronary disease?

The angiopoietin-like proteins are a family of proteins that share structural similarities to the angiopoietins. These proteins have been described to play a key role in the regulation of a myriad of physiologic processes, including serving as essential modulators of lipid and glucose metabolism. Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a key regulator of lipoprotein lipase, and its modulation has been shown to significantly impact the body's processing and distribution of triglycerides and cholesterol. Although more research remains to elucidate the full range of mechanisms through which ANGPTL4 affects triglyceride and cholesterol homeostasis, current research has associated decreased ANGPTL4 function with a beneficial effect on lipid parameters and overall cardiovascular disease risk, opening the possibility of ANGPTL4 as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.