LDL Basics
LDL is called "bad cholesterol" because it contributes to plaque buildup in arteries, leading to atherosclerosis.
What is LDL commonly referred to, and why is it considered harmful based on what we learned on Monday?
LDL becomes oxidized (oxLDL), triggering endothelial dysfunction and inflammation.
What happens to LDL when it infiltrates the arterial wall?
Resolvins are lipid mediators that suppress inflammation, promote efferocytosis, and stabilize plaques.
What are resolvins, and how do they help in atherosclerosis?
Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) triggers endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and foam cell formation.
What happens when LDL becomes oxidized in the arterial wall?
It inhibits endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), reducing nitric oxide levels and impairing blood vessel dilation.
How does oxLDL affect endothelial nitric oxide production?
Omega-3 fatty acids.
What dietary component can increase the production of pro-resolving mediators?
Foam cells are lipid-laden macrophages formed when macrophages engulf oxidized or aggregated LDL.
What are foam cells, and how are they formed?
oxLDL activates pathways that lead to programmed cell death in endothelial and smooth muscle cells.
What role does oxLDL play in apoptosis?
Modifying GAG structure to reduce LDL-proteoglycan interactions.
What is one therapeutic approach targeting LDL retention?
Proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix bind LDL via ionic interactions.
Name one key mechanism through which LDL is retained in the arterial intima.
By inducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activating the NLRP3 inflammasome.
How does oxLDL promote chronic inflammation?
Preventing or reversing switching to a contractile state can reduce pro-atherogenic ECM production.
How can SMC phenotypic switching be therapeutically modulated?
Retained LDL undergoes oxidation, leading to plaque formation and chronic inflammation.
What is a critical consequence of LDL retention in atherosclerosis?
Foam cells are formed when macrophages engulf oxLDL. They contribute to plaque formation and perpetuate chronic inflammation.
What are foam cells, and how are they linked to dysfunctional LDL?
Nanoparticle delivery systems for targeted plaque treatment.
What is a future direction for delivering pro-resolving mediators?