Dr. Lars Berglund, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine Associate Director, Irving Center for Clinical Research
NAA Committee membership: Curriculum Committee Graduate Medical Education Working Group (GMEWG)

Lars Berglund, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Associate Director, Irving Center for Clinical Research, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center

Research interests: Lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis.

Dr Berglund's research focuses on molecular mechanisms involved in lipoprotein metabolism. Primarily, the metabolic regulation of lipoprotein (a) is studied as well as the role of lipoprotein (a) as a risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease. The methods employed include detailed in vivo-turnover studies in humans, and a variety of in vitro-methods for characterization of protein and gene size variations of apolipoprotein (a). Methods have been developed using labeling of lipoprotein (a) in vivo with stable isotopes to allow detailed metabolic studies. In ongoing prospective clinical studies, lipoprotein (a) levels and allele sizes are linked to the occurrence of coronary heart disease or ischemic stroke, and the modulatory impact of other risk factors on lipoprotein (a) are assessed. The role of genetic variation of lipoprotein (a) in different ethnic groups is explored in relation to both its metabolic properties and its role as a risk factor. In other studies, the interrelationship between lipoprotein (a) and other lipoproteins are studied in humans during different nutritional and hyperlipidemic conditions.

Recent publications:

1. Isasi CR, Couch SC, Deckelbaum RJ, Starc TJ, Otvos JD, Shea S, Berglund L. The apolipoprotein e2 allele is associated with an anti-atherogenic lipoprotein profile in children: The Columbia University Biomarkers Study. Pediatrics (2000), 106: 568-575.
   
2. Couch SC, Isasi CR, Karmally W, Blaner WS, Starc TJ, Kaluski D, Deckelbaum RJ, Ginsberg HN, Shea S, Berglund L. Predictors of postprandial triacylglycerol response in children: the Columbia University Biomarkers Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000), 72: 1119-1127.
   
3. Paultre F, Pearson TA, Weil HFC, Tuck CH, Myerson M, Rubin J, Francis CK, Marx H, Philbin E, Reed RG, Berglund L. High levels of lipoprotein(a) carrying a small apolipoprotein(a) isoform is associated with coronary artery disease in both African American and Caucasian men. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (2000), 20: 2619-2624.
   
4. Jiang XJ, Paultre F, Pearson TA, Reed RG, Francis CK, Lin M, Berglund L, Tall AR. Plasma sphingomyelin level as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (2000), 20: 2614-2618.
   
5. Sacco RL, Benson RT, Kargman DE, Boden-Albala B, Tuck C, Lin I-F, Cheng JF, Paik MC, Shea S, Berglund L. The protective effects of high density lipoprotein cholesterol for ischemic stroke in the elderly: The Northern Manhattan Stroke Study. JAMA (2001), 285: 2729-2735.
   
6. Rubin J, Pearson TA, Reed RG, Berglund L. A fluorescence-based, non-radioactive method for efficient detection of the pentanucleotide repeat (TTTTA)n polymorphism in the apolipoprotein(a) gene. Clinical Chemistry (2001), 47: 1758-1762.
   
7. Rodriguez C, Pablos-Mendez A, Palmas W, Lantigua R, Mayeux R, Berglund L. Comparison of modifiable determinants of lipids and lipoprotein levels among African-Americans, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic Caucasians = 65 years of age and living in New York City. American Journal of Cardiology (2002), in press.
   
8. Paultre F, Tuck CH, Boden-Albala B, Kargman DE, Todd E, Jones J, Paik MC, Sacco RL, Berglund L. Relation of apo(a) size to carotid atherosclerosis in an elderly, multiethnic population. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (2002), in press.
   
9. Rubin J, Paultre F, Tuck CH, Holleran S, Reed RG, Pearson TA, Thomas CM, Ramakrishnan R, Berglund L. Apolipoprotein(a) genotype influences isoform dominance pattern differently in African Americans and Caucasians. Journal of Lipid Research (2002), in press.