Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 26, Issue 9, 2019

Atherosclerotic diseases are the leading cause of mortality in industrialized countries. Correspondingly, studying the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and developing new methods for its diagnostic and treatment remain in the focus of current medicine and health care. This review aims to discuss the mechanistic role of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in atherogenesis. In particular, the generally acc Read More

Background: Dyslipidaemias is a recognized risk factor for atherosclerosis, however, new evidence brought to light by trials investigating therapies to enhance HDLcholesterol have suggested an increased atherosclerotic risk when HDL-C is high. Results: Several studies highlight the central role in atherosclerotic disease of dysfunctional lipoproteins; oxidised LDL-cholesterol is an important feature, according to “oxidation hypothe Read More

The “HDL hypothesis” which suggested that an elevation in HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels by drugs or by life style changes should be paralleled by a decrease in the risk for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has been challenged by recent epidemiological and clinical studies using HDL-raising drugs. HDL components such as proteins, lipids or small RNA molecules, but not cholesterol itself, possess various atheroprotective functions in Read More

Oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is known to be involved in various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The presence of oxLDL in the human circulatory system and in atherosclerotic lesions has been demonstrated using monoclonal antibodies. Studies have shown the significance of circulating oxLDL in various systemic diseases, including acute myocardial infarction and diabetic mellitus. Several differe Read More

Over the last century, many studies have demonstrated that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a key risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) related to atherosclerosis. Thus, for these CVD patients, LDL lowering agents are commonly used in the clinic to reduce the risk for CVD. LDL, upon modification, will develop distinct inflammatory and proatherogenic potential, leading to impaired endothelial integrity, influx of immune Read More

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the main risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. Among the various lipoprotein classes, however, high density lipoproteins (HDL) are inversely associated with the incidence of atherosclerosis, since they are able to exert a series of atheroprotective functions. The central role of HDL within the reverse cholesterol transport, their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and their Read More

Protein catabolism in macrophages, which is accomplished mainly through autophagy- lysosomal degradation, ubiquitin-proteasome system, and calpains, is disturbed in atheroprone vessels. Moreover, growing evidence suggests that defects in protein catabolism interfere with cholesterol handling in macrophages. Indeed, decreases in autophagy facilitate the deposition of cholesterol in atheroprone macrophages and the s Read More

Epidemiological studies have suggested an inverse correlation between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease. HDLs promote reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and possess several putative atheroprotective functions, associated to the anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and anti-oxidant properties as well as to the ability to support endothelial physiology. The assump Read More

Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) are the major plasma carriers of cholesterol. However, LDL particles must undergo various molecular modifications to promote the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Modified LDL can be generated by different mechanisms, but as a common trait, show an increased electronegative charge of the LDL particle. A subfraction of LDL with increased electronegative charge (LDL(-)), which can be Read More

Modified forms of LDL, both spontaneously formed in the organism or prepared in the laboratory, are immunogenic. As a consequence, antigen-antibody complexes (immune complexes, IC) formed in vivo can be measured in the peripheral blood, and their levels are strong predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been possible to generate antibodies that recognize different LDL modifications, allowing the analysi Read More

Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) plays a central role in atherosclerosis by acting on multiple cells such as endothelial cells, macrophages, platelets, fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells through LOX-1. LOX-1 is a 50 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as receptor for ox-LDL, modified lipoproteins, activated platelets and advance glycation end-products. Ox- LDL through LOX-1, in endothelial cells, causes increase in leukocyte adhesi Read More

Apolipoprotein B –containing lipoproteins include triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (chylomicrons and their remnants, and very low-density lipoproteins and their remnants) and cholesterol-rich low-density lipoprotein particles. Of these, lipoproteins having sizes below 70-80 nm may enter the arterial wall, where they accumulate and induce the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. The processes that lead to accumulation of lipoprotein Read More