Abstract

Elevated plasma levels of lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), represent a ma-jor, inherited risk factor for coronary heart disease, although the mechanism of its action remains unknown. Lp(a) is distin-guished from the related LDL particle by the addition of apoli-poprotein(a), apo(a). The presence of this large glycoprotein is likely to affect the binding of the particle to the LDL receptor and/or other receptors which may contribute to the atherogenic potential of Lp(a). Here we demonstrate the binding to macro-phages of Lp(a) and pure recombinant apo(a) protein, via a specific, high-affinity receptor. This binding could lead to foam cell formation and the localization of Lp(a) to atherosclerotic