| Background | Lp-PLA2, also known as Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A2 or platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) , is an enzyme produced by inflammatory cells that functions to inactivate and degrade platelet-activating factor, a potent pro-inflammatory phospholipid, while also being responsible for hydrolyzing oxidatively modified polyunsaturated fatty acids. The products of the enzymatic actions of Lp-PLA2 have been linked to the development of atherosclerosis, and are positively correlated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. This marker has recently been studied as a therapeutic target for cardiac diseases. |
Information sourced from Uniprot.org
