Cholesterol Flashcards
Iniation of Artherosclerosis
Transport of plasma LDL-cholesterol through the endothelial cell layer into the extracellular matrix of the subendothelial space
At low levels, this may NOT be problematic. LDL is a naturally occurring lipoprotein
An artherosclerotic plague can be present for… without any….
Decades
Symptoms
How can an artherosclerotic plague cause MI?
Rupture
The exposed “core” of an atherosclerotic plaque is highly stimulating to circulating platelets
Platlets cause a blockage
What are the two most common plasma lipids?
Cholesterol
Triglycerides (TG)
Cholesterol Facts
A “sterol” or modified steroid molecule
A type of lipid molecule synthesized by all animal cells
Essential structural component of all animal cell membranes
Allows cells to function without a cell wall
Cholesterol is the building block for these molecules….
Bile acids
Vitamin D
Steroid hormones*
- “Steroid hormones” include corticosteroids (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids) and sex steroids (androgens, estrogens, and progestogens)
Triglycerides are….
3 fatty acids connected by a glycerol backbone
Fatty acids can be oxidized for energy by many tissues (except brain)
The glycerol backbone can be used for gluconeogenesis
Cholesterol and TG Transport
NOT water soluble so must have specialized “vehicles” to circulate in the blood
These “vehicles” are made from “apolipoproteins”
Apolipoproteins are proteins that bind lipids (to form lipoproteins)
Lipoproteins have varying density based on the relative amount of protein vs lipid
Plasma lioproteins contain….
protein and lipid
The protein component of lipoproteins function… What does it define?
Provide structural stability and also may function as ligands in receptor interactions or as cofactors in enzymatic processes that regulate lipoprotein metabolism.
The type of protein typically defines the use of the particle
Lipid componnetsof lipoproteins
Free cholesterol
Esterified cholesterol (>1 cholesterol molecule linked together to improve storage efficiency)
Triglycerides
Phospholipids.
Apoplipoproteins on surface of lipoprotein do what?
Facilitates dissolution in blood
Facilitates receptor interactio
The more…. are found in the middle. Examples?
More insoluble molecules in middle
TGs
Cholesterol ester
Chylomicrons
Large lipoproteins containing +++ triglyceride (80-95%)
Major vehicle to carry dietary fat
(and cholesterol) immediately after
absorption from gut
How long are chlyomicrons present in blood for? When?
Present in plasma for
3–6 h after a fat-containing meal
has been ingested
What are the roles of chlyomicrons?
Source of TG for adipose tissue and muscle (cardiac and skeletal)
Capillaries in these tissues contain LPL that liberates free fatty acids for a cellular energy source
Source of TG and cholesterol for liver to produce VLDL (another TG delivering vehicle)
What increases LDL?
Diets high in fat and cholesterol
Describe the process of Chylomicron to increased serum LDL
Chylomicron remnants (i.e., remainder of molecule after TG has been donated in tissues) contain cholesterol
When taken up by liver cells, increases intra-cellular cholesterol levels
Liver responds by downregulation of LDL-receptors (to prevent further uptake of LDL (cholesterol) from blood
LDL levels accumulate in blood
VLDL is….
Very similar to a chylomicron molecule
Synthesized in liver
Main source of FFA in the fasting state (i.e., chylo’s are low)
Provides FFA to tissues similar to
Chylomicrons (LPL in capillary bed
steal the TG from VLDL)
What do blood tests measure?
Blood tests measure “triglycerides” rather than VLDL and chylomicrons separately
TG blood tests measure all TG levels in the blood.