Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) also known as platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is a phospholipase A2 enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PLA2G7 gene.[5][6] Lp-PLA2 is a 45-kDa protein of 441 amino acids.[7] It is one of several PAF acetylhydrolases.
PLA2G7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Identifiers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aliases | PLA2G7, LDL-PLA2, LP-PLA2, PAFAD, PAFAH, Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, phospholipase A2 group VII | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
External IDs | OMIM: 601690 MGI: 1351327 HomoloGene: 3725 GeneCards: PLA2G7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wikidata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In the blood Lp-PLA2 travels mainly with low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Less than 20% is associated with high-density lipoprotein HDL. Several lines of evidence suggest that HDL-associated Lp-PLA2 may substantially contribute to the HDL antiatherogenic activities.[8] It is an enzyme produced by inflammatory cells and hydrolyzes oxidized phospholipids in LDL.
Lp-PLA2 is platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase (EC 3.1.1.47), a secreted enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of PAF to inactive products by hydrolysis of the acetyl group at the sn-2 position, producing the biologically inactive products LYSO-PAF and acetate.[9]
Lp-PLA2 is involved in the development of atherosclerosis,[7] an observation that has prompted interest as a possible therapeutic target (see, e.g. the investigational drug Darapladib). In human atherosclerotic lesions, 2 main sources of Lp-PLA2 can be identified, including that which is brought into the intima bound to LDL (from the circulation), and that which is synthesized de novo by plaque inflammatory cells (macrophages, T cells, mast cells)."
It is used as a marker for cardiac disease.[10]
A meta-analysis involving a total of 79,036 participants in 32 prospective studies found that Lp-PLA2 levels are positively correlated with increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke.[11]