title: Foam cells in atherosclerosis.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease characterized by the deposition of excessive cholesterol in the arterial intima. Macrophage foam cells play a critical role in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. The generation of these cells is associated with imbalance of cholesterol influx, esterification and efflux. CD36 and scavenger receptor class A (SR-A) are mainly responsible for uptake of lipoprotein-derived cholesterol by macrophages. Acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (ACAT1) and neutral cholesteryl ester hydrolase (nCEH) regulate cholesterol esterification. ATP-binding cassette transporters A1(ABCA1), ABCG1 and scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) play crucial roles in macrophage cholesterol export. When inflow and esterification of cholesterol increase and/or its outflow decrease, the macrophages are ultimately transformed into lipid-laden foam cells, the prototypical cells in the atherosclerotic plaque. The aim of this review is to describe what is known about the mechanisms of cholesterol uptake, esterification and release in macrophages. An increased understanding of the process of macrophage foam cell formation will help to develop novel therapeutic interventions for atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Life Science Research Center, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yu-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Da-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Chao-Ke
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000070998:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000101:Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001692:Biological Transport; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D051117:Scavenger Receptors, Class A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051122:Scavenger Receptors, Class B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D002787:Sterol Esterase
chemical_list: C577836:ABCA1 protein, human; C419353:ABCG1 protein, human; D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D000070998:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C495124:SCARB1 protein, human; D051117:Scavenger Receptors, Class A; D051122:Scavenger Receptors, Class B; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002784:Cholesterol; C506639:ACAT1 protein, human; D000101:Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C515677:NCEH1 protein, human; D002787:Sterol Esterase
keywords: ABCA1; ABCG1; ACAT1; AGE; ATP-binding cassette transporter A1; ATP-binding cassette transporter G1; Atherosclerosis; CD36; CE; ERK1/2; FC; Foam cells; HDL; LDLR; LXR; MAPK; PI3K; PKB; PKC; PPAR response elements; PPAR-γ; PPREs; RCT; RXR; SR-A; SR-BI; TGF-β; acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase-1; advanced glycation end products; apoA-I; apoE; apolipoprotein A-I; apolipoprotein E; cholesterol ester; extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2; free cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein; liver X receptor; low-density lipoprotein receptor; mitogen-activated protein kinase; nCEH; neutral cholesteryl ester hydrolase; ox-LDL; oxidized low-density lipoprotein; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ; phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; protein kinase B; protein kinase C; retinoid X receptor; reverse cholesterol transport; scavenger receptor BI; scavenger receptor class A; transforming growth factor-β