Norman C.W. Wong

The primary interest of our laboratory is to define the mechanisms of hormone action. To this end we have examined the hormonal regulation of apolipoprotein AI. This protein mediates reverse cholesterol transport, a normal physiologic process that guards against heart disease. In the past year we have discovered that signal transduction pathways induces apo AI gene activity. Both PKA and PKC causes marked 4- to 5-fold induction of apo AI promoter activity. Our studies have now lead us to develop gene and cell therapy to raise the levels of apo AI protein. This finding will help us develop new ways to increase gene activity.