Lipoproteins: A Source of Cardiac Lipids

G.D. Lopaschuk and N.S. Dhalla (eds.), Cardiac Energy Metabolism in Health and Disease, Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease 11, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-1227-8_2, © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014 Abstract Lipids are the major substrate for cardiac ATP production and they are derived from adipose tissue or lipoprotein triglycerides. Lipoproteins are synthesized in the liver and they obtain their mature form following interaction with enzymes that are present in the circulation. Lipoprotein-derived fatty acids are released by lipoprotein lipase and are then taken up by cardiomyocytes either passively or via fatty acid receptors, such as CD36. Uptake of remnant lipoproteins via cardiomyocyte lipoprotein receptors is also possible. Besides fatty acids, other hydrophobic molecules such as cholesteryl esters, retinyl esters and vitamins are delivered by lipoproteins to the heart. While lipids are important for normal cardiac function, excessive lipid uptake, also known as lipotoxicity, may lead to cardiac abnormalities. This chapter focuses on the role of lipoproteins in providing fatty acids and other essential lipids to the heart in healthy conditions as well as in cardiac disease.