Session 6 Lecture Notes Flashcards
What is the definition of atherosclerosis?
Accumulation of intracellular and extracellular lipid in the intima and media of large and medium sized arteries
What is the definition of arteriosclerosis?
The thickening and hardening of arterial walls as a result of atherosclerosis, diabetes or hypertension
What are the 3 macroscopic features of atherosclerosis?
- Fatty streak
- Simple plaque
- Complicated plaque
What are the 3 microscopic features of atherosclerosis?
- Proliferation of smooth muscle cells
- Accumulation of foam cells
- Extracellular lipids
What is the single most important risk factor for atherosclerosis?
Smoking
How do age and gender affect atherosclerosis risk?
Increased risk as we age
Women are protected pre-menopause
What is hyperlipidaemia?
High cholesterol levels in plasma assosciated with atherosclerosis
What type of Apolipoprotein are associated with changes in LDL levels and increased risk of atherosclerosis?
ApoE
How many polymorphism of ApoE are there?
Over 6
How many units a day are associated with increased risk of ischaemic heart disease?
Over 5 units a day
What cells can take up lipids to become foam cells?
Macrophages and smooth muscle cells
There are 6 stages to atherosclerosis (in the unifying hypothesis)
What happens first?
Endothelial injury (through raised LDLs, toxins, hypertension or haemodynamic stress)
There are 6 stages to atherosclerosis (in the unifying hypothesis) - after endothelial injury occurs what does this cause?
- Platelet adhesion, release of PDGF and smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration
- Accumulation of lipids, LDL oxidation and uptake of lipids by smooth muscle cells and macrophages
- Migration of monocytes into the intima
There are 6 stages to atherosclerosis (in the unifying hypothesis)
In the final stages - what do the SMC and foam cells do?
SMCs produce matrix material
Foam cells secrete cytokines which cause further SMC proliferation and recruitment of other inflammatory cells
