The invention is directed to isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments that encode human lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, vectors and hosts containing the fragment and fragments hybridizing to noncoding regions as well as antisense oligonucleotides to these fragments. The invention is further directed to methods of using these fragments to obtain human lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and to diagnose, treat, prevent and/or ameliorate a pathological disorder.