Cholesterol Lowering Drugs Flashcards
Describe the structure of lipoproteins
Central core of hydrophobic lipid
Hydrophilic coat of polar substances
Hydrophobic lipids
Triglycerides or Cholesterol esters
Hydrophilic coat of substances
Phospholipids
Free Cholesterol
Associated proteins
State the 5 main classes of lipoproteins
High density lipoproteins
Intermediate density lipoproteins
Low density lipoproteins
Very Low density lipoproteins
Chylomicrons
Describe chylomicrons
Massive, huge diameter lipoproteins, thus storing fatty acids and cholesterol from the diet.
How do the 5 main classes of lipoproteins vary ?
Vary in :
- Size
- Density
- Apoproteins
- Core lipids
State the 2 pathways for cholesterol synthesis
Endogenous pathway
Exogenous pathway
Exogenous pathway
External source of cholesterol
Endogenous pathway
Internal ability of the body to produce a source of cholesterol
Function of chylomicrons
Transport tri-acylglycerides and cholesterol esters from the GI to the tissues.
Function of lipoprotein lipase
Chylomicrons are split by lipoprotein lipase to release free fatty acids.
These free fatty acids are taken up by muscle and adipose tissue
What happens to chylomicrons after interacting with lipoprotein lipase ?
The cholesterol enriched, fatty acid depleted chylomicron (chylomicron remnant) is taken up in the liver.
The cholesterol is stored and oxidised into bile acids or released to VLDL.
Function of VLDL (very low density lipoprotein)
Transports cholesterol and newly synthesised tri-acylglycerols to the tissues.
TGs removed from VLDL leaving LDL with a high cholesterol.
Function of HDL
Absorbs cholesterol from cell breakdown and transfers it to VLDL.
Requirements for endogenous creation of cholesterol
A source of acetyl-CoA
A source of enzymes
What does regulation of the endogenous pathway depend on ?
Based on how much cholesterol you already have in your body.
XS cholesterol - you don’t need to synthesise as much endogenous cholesterol
What is synthesised from cholesterol ?
Bile acids
(important for GI function of the body)
What happens if we have elevated plasma cholesterol ?
Elevated plasma cholesterol is associated with high LDL which is a risk factor for ATHEROMATOUS DISEASE.
What does atheromatous disease lead to ?
Atherosclerosis
Ischaemic Heart disease
Myocardial infarction
Cerebral Vascular Accidents
Hyperlipidaemia
An increase in plasma concentration of lipids
What causes an increased risk of atherosclerosis and CHD ?
High plasma conc. of total and LDL cholesterol.
State the average total cholesterol level in the UK
5.7 mmol/L
State the ideal levels of cholesterol
<5 mmol/L
State the mildly high levels of cholesterol
5 - 6.4 mmol/L