Cardio L24 Athersclerosis Flashcards
Atherosis
lipid rich gruel – free/esterified cholesterol, and cell debris
Inflammatory cells
lipid rich gruel – free/esterified cholesterol, and cell debris
Inflammatory cells 1. Macrophages, T cells, mast cells. Macrophages store intracellular lipid as foam cells
Sclerosis
connective tissue - smooth muscle cells.
Cholesterol Hypothesis:
- Lesions contain cholesterol
- Cholesterol feeding causes atherosclerosis
- Serum cholesterol (LDL) is a risk factor
- Familial hypercholestrolaemia predicts later atherosclerosis
- Lowering LDL cholesterol decreases risk
Cholesterol function
Cholesterol function à is an essential component of cell membranes, it reduces fluidity but lower melting point.
Control of plasma LDL à
Steroid response element binding protein.
If the body is defieinct in cholesterol SREBP will transcrbibe LDL receptors and HMGoA reductase production to allow endogenous production of cholesterol.
Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolaemia à
The actual gene not the transcription site is defective.
- Transcription of the genen is fine but a dysfunctionl LDL receptor formed.
- Therefore no signal sent to say LDL is available.
- Less cholesterol inside cell
- SREBP does not translocate to ER.
- Get an upregulation of HMGCoA to compensate for the ‘lack of’ cholesterol
- Over synthesis of cholesterol
Diet:
to reduce cholesterol
- Reduce intestinal uptake
- Plant stanols
a. Benecol (yoghurt)- block uptake - See below àPathway via HMGCoA reductase à most effective way of altering cholesterol.
* Saturated fat –> increases rate of HMGCoA reductase activity.
* Polyunsaturated fatty acids à decrease HMGCoA reductase activity
Excretion of Cholesterol:
Excreted in faeces. Bile acids are secreted into intestine emulsify food and excreted as faeces.
Reabsorption of bile acids.
Treatment of cholesterol via upregulation of excretion
Treatment: bind bile acids to resin e.g. dietary fibre and can enhance rate of bile acid secretion (modest effect on lowering cholesterol concentration)
Drugs:
examples
- Reduce intestinal uptake à Ezetimibe (reduction by 15%)
- Old: Bile acid sequestrants à cholestyramine
- Reduce HMGCoA reductase inhibitors: STATINS
- Reduce HMGCoA reductase inhibitors: STATINS
o Compactin
o Mevinolin
o Lovostatin
o Simvastatin
o Atorvastatin
Process of atherosclerosis à
LDL trapping by proteoglycans in the artery wall.
Artery structure wall:
- Collagen
- Eleastic fibres
- ECM àproteoglycans which provides a filler and attraction of water (turgor to maintain the size of the tissue) lotsof sulphate groups do this due to their negative charge.
LDL particles carry
LDL particles carry vitamin E to prevent them from oxidising but once it is trapped in the artery wall. Eventually vitamin E store is lost and LDL is oxidised.