
ALT Researchers at the University of Milan have identified that an enzyme called phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) can effectively mobilize cholesterol from arterial plaques, sending it back into the bloodstream for natural disposal. This discovery is a potential game-changer because, unlike current treatments that primarily focus on preventing new plaque from forming, this method actually targets and dissolves existing blockages. Atherosclerosis occurs when cholesterol and inflammatory cells create stable, hardened deposits in artery walls that resist traditional removal methods. When these plaques become too large, they severely restrict blood flow, often necessitating invasive procedures like stents or bypass surgery to prevent heart attacks or strokes. The PLTP enzyme acts as a natural extraction system, pulling cholesterol out of the arterial wall and transferring it to HDL, or "good cholesterol," for transport to the liver.





























