Discovery could improve prevention and treatment of heart
disease
Toronto - Canadian scientists have discovered that a protein
called resistin, secreted by fat tissue, causes high levels of “bad”
cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL), increasing the risk of heart
disease.
The research, presented today at the Canadian Cardiovascular
Congress, proves that resistin increases the production of LDL in human liver
cells and also degrades LDL receptors in the liver. As a result, the liver is
less able to clear “bad” cholesterol from the body. Resistin accelerates the
accumulation of LDL in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease.