Cholesterol biosynthesis can be inhibited by suitable inhibitors, such as the statins. However, hypercholesterolaemia, whether familial or diet-induced, and more generally hyperlipidaemia are not adequately addressed by cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors alone, since the body's cholesterol is acquired by uptake from the diet as well as by endogenous synthesis. Lipid is also taken up from the gut. This problem is addressed by providing one or more molecules having amphipathic regions to inhibit the uptake of cholesterol, and other lipids, from the gut. Obesity may also be treated or prevented in this way, as may atherosclerosis. Examples of suitable molecules having amphipathic regions include natural or variant apoproteins and other proteins and peptides having an amphipathic &agr;-helix composed of at least about 15 amino acids.
胆固醇生物合成可以通过适当的
抑制剂,如他汀类药物,来进行抑制。然而,无论是家族性还是饮食诱导的高
胆固醇血症,以及更普遍的高脂血症,单靠
胆固醇生物合成
抑制剂并不能充分解决,因为人体的
胆固醇既通过饮食摄入获得,也通过内源合成获得。脂质也从肠道摄取。通过提供一个或多个具有两性区域的分子来抑制从肠道摄取
胆固醇和其他脂质,可以解决这个问题。肥胖也可以通过这种方式治疗或预防,动脉粥样硬化也可以。具有两性区域的适当分子的示例包括天然或变异的
载脂蛋白和其他具有至少约15个
氨基酸组成的两性α-螺旋的蛋白和肽。