Lipids have a variety of biological roles: they are components of cellular membranes, serve as energy stores, are fuel molecules, and are surface-active ingredients of lung surfactant. Furthermore, lipids and lipid derivatives are hormones and vitamins and in the form of bile salts solubilize dietary lipids. Lipids also participate in signal transduction and transcriptional regulation. The transport of lipids in the bloodstream is achieved by the packing of the lipid moieties into water-soluble lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are complexes of amphipathic proteins with lipids. Plasma lipoproteins have traditionally been grouped into five major classes, based on their buoyant density: chylomicrons, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Lipoproteins are synthesized and catabolized in three distinct pathways: the chylomicron pathway, the VLDL/IDL/LDL pathway, and the HDL pathway, all of which are metabolically interrelated. Several different proteins, including apolipoproteins, plasma enzymes, lipid transfer proteins, lipoprotein receptors, and lipid transporters participate in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism pathways and contribute to lipid homeostasis. Genetic alterations in any of the above proteins may affect cellular and plasma lipid levels and may lead to various diseases.

We invite authors to submit original research and review articles that seek to define the role of lipids and lipoproteins in health and diseases with emphasis given on their implication in atherosclerosis. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Role of enzymes and other proteins involved in the metabolism of lipids in cells, tissues, and circulation in relation to atherosclerosis
• Role of lipids in signal transduction and transcriptional regulation in relation to atherosclerosis
• Role of lipoproteins in the immune defense system
• Lipidomic and proteomic technologies for detailed molecular characterization of lipoproteins composition
• Physicochemical basis of apolipoprotein function
• Dyslipidemias
• Hypolipidemias
• New pharmacological targets and novel therapies for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis