title: Lipid homeostasis and the formation of macrophage-derived foam cells in atherosclerosis.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disorder characterized by the deposition of excess lipids in the arterial intima. The formation of macrophage-derived foam cells in a plaque is a hallmark of the development of atherosclerosis. Lipid homeostasis, especially cholesterol homeostasis, plays a crucial role during the formation of foam cells. Recently, lipid droplet-associated proteins, including PAT and CIDE family proteins, have been shown to control the development of atherosclerosis by regulating the formation, growth, stabilization and functions of lipid droplets in macrophage-derived foam cells. This review focuses on the potential mechanisms of formation of macrophage-derived foam cells in atherosclerosis with particular emphasis on the role of lipid homeostasis and lipid droplet-associated proteins. Understanding the process of foam cell formation will aid in the future discovery of novel therapeutic interventions for atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000070780:Perilipin-2; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D051779:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000070780:Perilipin-2; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D051779:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol; D000217:Acyltransferases