[Hepatic triglyceride lipase].

Human hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) is a 476 residue glycoprotein that hydrolyzes triglyceride rich lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins. Comparison of the HTGL, LPL and PL gene structures established them as members of a lipase gene family. Familial HTGL deficiency is a rare disorder that is characterized by premature atherosclerosis and abnormal circulating lipoproteins. In HTGL transgenic mice, plasma HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels were found to be low and were correlated with decrease in the accumulation of aortic cholesterol. These results suggest that HTGL may have a protective effect against formation of atherosclerosis.