Atherosclerosis Flashcards
What are some non-modifiable atherosclerosis risk factors?
Age
Sex
Genetics
Inflammation
Family history of CV disease
What are some modifiable atherosclerosis risk factors?
Diabetes
Hypertension
Obesity
Smoking/alcohol (nicotine damages endothelial cells)
Physical inactivity
Dyslipidaemia (elevated blood LDL). Genetic but can be controlled with drugs
Describe how atherosclerosis occurs
- Insult to artery wall, leading to endothelial dysfunction, reducing NO biosynthesis
- Inflammatory cells accumulate and migrate to the vessel wall
- LDL accumulates in the artery wall and is oxidised by free radicals
- Macrophages (activated by T-lymphocytes) engulf these, forming foam cells
- Foam cells secrete IL-1 and apoptose, relaseing lipid content in the intima
- Macrophages can no longer clear dead cells. Foam cells necrose, forming the necrotic core.
- Macrophages release MMPs, weakening collagen in fibrous caps to make it susceptible to rupture
- Necrotic core enlarges and fibrous cap thins.
- thrombus and myocardial infarciton. Or it can be a clinically silent
Where do atherosclerotic plaques normally occur?
In peripheral and coronary arteries
Changes in flow/turbulance, e.g junctions and bifurcation have turbulent flow
They can occlude on vessel to restrict blood flow (angina) or it can rupture
What is a atherosclertic core made up of
Lipid
Necrotic core
Connective tissue
Fibrous cap
What knock on effects can endothelial cells not producing NO have?
Synthesis of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1), chemokines, IL-1, IL-6 and TNFα.
This creates a chemokine gradient, attracting T-lymphocyte infiltration and leukocytes moving from lumen to between endothelial cells. This adheres
What apoliproteins do all lipoproteins have?
Apo C and E
Describe the exogenous pathway
- Cholesterol enters enterocytes via NPC1L1
- Nascent chylomicrons containing ApoB48 form
- Nascent chylomicrons enter bloodstream
- HDL donates ApoC and E to chylomicron
- ApoC stimulates LPL to hydrolyse chylomicrons
- Cholesterol is released into tissues or enters endogenous pathway, is converted to bile or excreted
- Remnant chylomicrons enter liver via ApoE
What does the endogenous pathway transport?
VLDL
IDL
LDL
Describe endogenous pathway
- Cholesterol, triglyceride and ApoB100 combine to form VLDL
- VLDL enters blood stream, HDL donates ApoE and C
- ApoC activtaes LPL to convert VLDL to IDL and this can be further converted to LDL
4, IDL and LDL enter liver via ApoB100 or ApoE
Describe the reverse cholesterol pathway
- HDL transfers cholesterol to VLDL, IDL or LDL via CETP
- These enter liver as LDLR receptor recognises ApoB100
- HDL enters liver as SRB1 recognises ApoA1
- The lipoproteins are moved to the intestines via ABC-G5 or secreted into bile
How do statins work?
Inhibit HMG-CoA
What do statins do?
Reduce cholesterol synthesis, mainly in liver
Decreases LDL
Impede tumour cell growth and help bone formation due to changes in Ca2+ signalling
Antiatherosclerotic effects which are independent of hypolipidemic action
What is dyslipidaemia?
Abnormal amounts of lipids in the blood (usually elevated (hyperlipidaemia))
How is dyslipidaemia classed?
Frederickson classification:
According to which lipoproteins are abnormal
Six phenotypes: higher blood LDL and lower HDL increases risk of atherosclerosis
What is primary dyslipidaemia?
Caused by diet and genetics
Polygenic or monogenic
Classified according to which lipoproteins is abnormal
What is secondary dyslipidaemia?
Concequence of diabetes, alcohol, chronic renal failure, liver disease, drugs, ect
Corrected by treating the underlying cause
What is familial hypercholesterolemia (FH)?
Genetic disorder causing high blood LDL and early cardiovascular disease
Mutations in LDLR gene
Mutations in ApoB100 (binds LDLR on liver)
How can high blood LDL become persistent?
High LDL can result in VLDL and inadequate uptake of LDL by liver (low responsiveness/abundance)