Table 1.

Main atheroprotective HDL functions

HDL functions
Cholesterol reverse transport	Cholesterol taken up from peripheral tissues, esterified and transferred to HDL for transport to the liver
Cholesterol efflux	Cholesterol and phospholipids removal from macrophages Interaction with cellular receptors: ABCA1, ABCG1, SR-BI
Anti-inflammatory activity	Inhibition of VCAM-1 expression in endothelial cells Removal of oxidized pro-inflammatory lipids from cells and lipoproteins
Antioxidative	Inhibition of LDL oxidation Removal of oxidized lipids from cells and ox-LDL Scavenging of ROS
Cytoprotective	Inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis Efflux of toxic oxysterols
Vasodilatory	Induction of NO production Inhibition of superoxide release
Anti-thrombotic	Inhibition of platelet aggregation Activation of eNOS
Anti-infectious	Interaction with LPS

HDL high-density lipoproteins, ABCA1 ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, ABCG1 ATP-binding cassette transporter G1, SR-BI scavenger receptor class B type I, VCAM-1 vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, LDL low-density lipoprotein, ox-LDL oxidized LDL, ROS reactive oxygen species, NO nitric oxide, eNOS endothelial nitric oxide synthase