More details about HDL cholesterol level

Cholesterol in the blood is not soluble and it is transmitted throughout the body by proteins named lipoproteins. We know various types of lipoproteins. LDL or low density lipoproteins transmit two thirds of all cholesterol throughout the body. Cholesterol transmitted with LDL is also named bad cholesterol (although it is necessary for the organism to function!). In other words, LDL lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body. High density lipoproteins - HDL - perform the opposite. They transport cholesterol in the opposite direction; they remove it from the blood flow and return it to the liver, where it is transformed and extracted into the gall. HDL and LDL lipoproteins therefore have an impact on the amount of cholesterol that circulates in our blood flow. Until the cholesterol is connected with the proteins in our blood there are no problems. Problems occur when the cholesterol starts to agglutinate on the walls of veins, which leads to atherosclerosis.

There are numerous risk factors for atherosclerosis and the most common are age, cigarettes, alcohol, food with too much cholesterol and saturated fatty acids, a lack of exercise and diabetes. The most important risk factor for atherosclerosis and with it linked acute problems is a reduced amount of HDL cholesterol.

Atherosclerosis

Arterial linings also originate in healthy people but usually quickly disappear. They occur when the arteries are damaged, which can happen because of high blood pressure, smoking or stress. In order to repair the damage in the body, the cells begin to divide thus creating a new tissue, but unfortunately in the process of tissue building the artery surface loses its smoothness. Cholesterol, white blood cells and other sediments begin to pile up on these scars. The arteries become hard and inelastic and the inner diameter slowly becomes narrower and as a result the flow of blood to an organ or tissue is reduced, which is nourished by the damaged artery. The arterial linings can also peel of from the wall, which leads to the formation of a blood clot. This type of blood clot can completely clog the artery and the result can be a stroke or heart attack. Gangrene is also possible if the arteries in the arms or legs are clogged up. Atherosclerosis represents one of the biggest health problems for the human race. Even though it can affect any artery, the biggest problem is coronary heart disease. On the world stage, 31% of deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases.

Researchers have found a significant correlation between the level of HDL cholesterol in the blood and the forms of the gene EDN-1, which encodes endothelin 1. The gene is located in the first chromosome. In the endothelial cells of arteries, a protein with a length of 212 amino acids residues is synthesized. The cells secrete only a part of this protein – that is a long peptide with 21 amino acids. The gene for endothelin1 extends for 6,836 basis pairs and includes 5 exons. In protein, location 198 is an important location for the level of HDL cholesterol, where there are two amino acids: lysine or asparagines. Endothelins are a class of proteins, which makes arteries contract. The most effective is endothelin-1, which is secreted by endothelin cells of the arterial system. Discovering a correlation between endothelin-1 and the level of HDL cholesterol was at first quite a big surprise. This correlation within the molecular level is still unknown, but it is anticipated that endothelin-1 has an impact on the level of the hormone adiponectin in the blood flow, which is secreted by fat cells. We know that adiponectin regulates the decomposition of fatty acids in the body.

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