High-Density Lipoprotein in Metabolic Disorders and Beyond: An Exciting NewWorld Full of Challenges and Opportunities Zvintzou, Evangelia Benabdellah, Karim High-density lipoprotein Atherosclerosis NAFLD Type 2 diabetes mellitus Morbid obesity Adipose tissue Multiple myeloma Gene editing Pharmacology Pharmaceutical High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is an enigmatic member of the plasma lipid and lipoprotein transport system, best known for its ability to promote the reverse cholesterol efflux and the unloading of excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues. More recently, data in experimental mice and humans suggest that HDL may play important novel roles in other physiological processes associated with various metabolic disorders. Important parameters in the HDL functions are its apolipoprotein and lipid content, further reinforcing the principle that HDL structure defines its functionality. Thus, based on current evidence, low levels of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) or dysfunctional HDL particles contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as morbid obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Interestingly, low levels of HDL-C and dysfunctional HDL particles are observed in patients with multiple myeloma and other types of cancer. Therefore, adjusting HDL-C levels within the optimal range and improving HDL particle functionality is expected to benefit such pathological conditions. The failure of previous clinical trials testing various HDL-C-raising pharmaceuticals does not preclude a significant role for HDL in the treatment of atherosclerosis and related metabolic disorders. Those trials were designed on the principle of “the more the better”, ignoring the U-shape relationship between HDL-C levels and morbidity and mortality. Thus, many of these pharmaceuticals should be retested in appropriately designed clinical trials. Novel gene-editing-based pharmaceuticals aiming at altering the apolipoprotein composition of HDL are expected to revolutionize the treatment strategies, improving the functionality of dysfunctional HDL. 2023-07-18T11:10:09Z 2023-07-18T11:10:09Z 2023-06-08 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Zvintzou, E.; Xepapadaki, E.; Skroubis, G.; Mparnia, V.; Giannatou, K.; Benabdellah, K.; Kypreos, K.E. High-Density Lipoprotein in Metabolic Disorders and Beyond: An Exciting NewWorld Full of Challenges and Opportunities. Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16, 855. [https:// doi.org/10.3390/ph16060855] https://hdl.handle.net/10481/83848 10.3390/ph16060855 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Atribución 4.0 Internacional MDPI